Govt extends 'Khelo India' for 10 years in a boost to sports manufacturing

Apart from the fiscal deficit and various other announcements Union Budget 2026 also highlighted an increase in the budget outlay for sports goods manufacturingUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget on Sunday proposed to extend the Khelo India Mission for the next 10 yearsThe extension of the scheme and surge in fund allocation for the sporting sector will give a major boost to the development and nurturing of talent and push selfreliance in equipment and infrastructureAllocations made keeping in view Indias Olympics 2036 bidThese steps are aimed at developing the Indian sports ecosystem capable of putting its best foot forward at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics for which the country has bidKeeping the goal in vision the Finance Minister also proposed plans for a major upgrade in infrastructure and for the development of sports at the grassroots levelWhile highlighting that India could be a global hub for sports manufacturing she said ldquoIndia has the potential to emerge as a global hub for highquality affordable sports goodsrdquo Sitharaman said in her budget speechldquoI propose a dedicated initiative for sports goods that will promote manufacturing research and innovation in equipment design as well as material sciences she addedGovernment to allocate Rs 10000 crore for sports developmentSitharaman further said I propose to introduce a dedicated Rs 10000 crore SME growth fund to create future champions incentivising enterprises based on select criteriaThe government also proposed a longterm Khelo India Mission that will be in force for the next 10 yearsldquoTaking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent which is set in motion through the Khelo India programme I propose to launch a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decaderdquo she addedThe sports development industry could act as a major boost to the economySitharaman noted the sports sector in India has great potential to generate employment skilling and job creationUnderlining the governmentrsquos intent to develop sports as an economic ecosystem she highlighted the money to be invested in training coaching equipment manufacturing and support services in the upcoming financial yearlsquoKhelo Indiarsquo budget increased by Rs 200 croreThe government has accordingly increased the total budget allocations for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in Union Budget 2026 from Rs 800 crore to Rs 1000 crore Among the other major hikes the Budget for the Sports Authority of India SAI has been increased from Rs 815 crore to Rs 830 crore while the outlay for incentives to athletes was reduced from 4265 crore to Rs 37 croreAlso the National Sports Federations will get more funds as its Budget allocation has been increased from Rs 340 crore to Rs 400 crore while the National Dope Testing Laboratory will get Rs 23 crore instead of the earlier Rs 1870 crore ensuring that the regulator keeps an eye on athletes using fraudulent ways to enhance their performancesWith inputs from IANS