Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a nationwide sports talent identification campaign for children aged between five and 15 years, as part of India’s preparations for a potential bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said India’s performance in international sports was steadily improving and the country was moving forward as a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympics.
“Bharat’s performance in the world of sports is steadily improving, and we are moving forward as strong contenders to host the 2036 Olympics,” the Prime Minister said. He also highlighted that India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
PM Modi stressed the need to expand India’s participation across sporting disciplines. He noted that the Olympic Games feature around 40 sports and 325-350 events, but India does not participate or qualify in nearly two-thirds of them.
To address this gap, the Prime Minister announced a talent-hunt campaign that will be conducted across villages, cities and schools to identify sporting potential among children aged five to 15.
“If we need athletes for 2036, we must focus today on these young boys and girls who are 5, 10 or 15 years old,” PM Modi said, adding that special attention would also be given to identifying talented girls.
Children identified through the campaign will have their abilities assessed and receive specialised training to help develop them into athletes capable of representing India at the highest level.
Highlighting the broader development of India’s sporting ecosystem, PM Modi cited the success of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and initiatives such as the Khelo India Games, University Games, Winter Games and Beach Games. He also pointed to investments in sports infrastructure, coaching, sports medicine and nutrition.
The Prime Minister said the expansion of the sports ecosystem would also create opportunities for young people who may not become athletes themselves, including careers in coaching, sports medicine, nutrition and other support services.
Focus on youth employment
PM Modi also announced the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, describing it as a ₹1 lakh crore initiative aimed at creating new employment opportunities for young people.
Under the scheme, the government will provide ₹15,000 to young people entering private-sector employment, while companies generating additional employment opportunities will receive incentives. The scheme, he said, is expected to create new employment opportunities for approximately 3.5 crore youth.
“The greatest beneficiary of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be the youth of my country,” PM Modi said, stressing that young people must remain at the centre of India’s development journey towards 2047.
He also highlighted the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, saying that the country now has more than 2.5 lakh registered startups under the Startup India initiative. Referring to the government’s ₹1 lakh crore Innovation Fund, he urged young entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas and assured them of access to resources.
Free online coaching for competitive examinations
Addressing the financial pressure faced by families because of coaching classes, the Prime Minister announced a new initiative to provide free online coaching to young people preparing for various examinations.
“The pressure of coaching classes has become a major burden for our middle-class families,” PM Modi said.
He said the government would leverage India’s digital public infrastructure, teaching talent and technology to create an extensive network for delivering free coaching to students across the country.
Call for a Nasha Mukt Bharat
The Prime Minister also raised concerns over drug abuse among young people and called for a collective national effort to address the problem.
“Drug abuse is becoming a major crisis for the country and its young people. A ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’ must be a collective responsibility for all of us,” he said.
PM Modi stressed that protecting the younger generation from substance abuse was essential to harnessing the potential of India’s youth for national development.
The Prime Minister said India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat by 2047 must be closely linked to the aspirations, participation and potential of its young population, making youth empowerment, employment, entrepreneurship and sports key pillars of the country’s development agenda.
