The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme and an enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs) Scheme with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
The approved outlay is nearly eight times higher than that of the previous Khelo India Scheme. The government said the programme is aimed at strengthening the pathway from grassroots talent identification to elite performance, while aligning with the National Sports Policy 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020.
The scheme seeks to create an integrated sports ecosystem through National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), Khelo India Centres of Excellence (KICoEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAAs), Khelo India Centres (KICs) and Youth Sports Companies (YSCs) of the Armed Forces.
To strengthen school sports, the Cabinet also approved two new initiatives — Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) — aimed at identifying talent early and integrating sports with mainstream education.
One of the key changes is the introduction of the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIA) category alongside the existing Khelo India Athletes programme. The government said this would expand the structured athlete development ecosystem nearly tenfold by bringing thousands of additional athletes under scientific coaching, sports science support and long-term mentoring.
The scheme also proposes a strengthened talent identification framework involving talent scouts, zonal committees, High Performance Directors and High Performance Managers, with a progression pathway from grassroots competitions to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
To increase competitive opportunities, the revamped programme will support school, university, regional and sport-specific leagues, besides national championships. It also includes measures to promote women’s sports, para sports, indigenous games and the organisation of the National Games and major international sporting events in India.
As part of efforts to strengthen coaching standards, the government will establish a National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) to standardise coaching qualifications and improve the quality of coaches and support personnel.
The scheme also envisages a unified digital sports platform integrating athlete databases, competitions, coaching resources, infrastructure, talent assessments and funding to enable data-driven planning and athlete management.
The enhanced ANSFs Scheme, approved alongside Khelo India, will provide financial support for coaching, sports science, modern equipment, international exposure, training camps, foreign experts and participation in international competitions during 2026-31.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved the expansion of the Fit India Movement to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles, particularly among young people, through nationwide awareness campaigns and community-based initiatives.
The government said the revamped Khelo India Scheme is intended to strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem and support the country’s long-term ambitions, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and its bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
