India’s Game-Changing Move: Record Rs 3794 Crore Sports Budget Allocation

In a move to fuel India’s sporting future, the government has made a record allocation of Rs 3794 crores to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for FY 2025–26. A major portion, that is Rs 2,191.01 crore, has been allocated to Central Sector Schemes, with the flagship Khelo India Programme receiving Rs 1,000 crore. The budget allocations to the ministry in the FY 2014-15 were Rs 1643 crore, marking a rise of 130.9% in 2025-26.

Khelo India Scheme:

Launched in 2016-17, the Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports aims to promote mass participation and sporting excellence in both rural and urban areas. The scheme received an extension for five years in 2021 with an outlay of Rs 3,790.50 crore. Key achievements include:

• Approval of 326 new sports infrastructure projects worth ₹3,124.12 crore.
• Establishment of 1,045 Khelo India Centres (KICs) for grassroots training and support.
• Notification of 34 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and accreditation of 306 academies.
• Support for 2,845 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) with coaching, equipment, medical care, and a monthly out-of-pocket allowance.

Khelo India Games:

Under the Khelo India movement, the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), the Khelo India University Games (KIUG), Khelo India Para Games, and the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) were set up as annual national sports competitions where youngsters, representing their states and universities, respectively, showcased their skills and competed for medals. The initiative began with the Khelo India School Games in 2018, held in New Delhi. The big push came after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) became associated with the initiative later that year, and consequently, the Khelo India School Games were renamed to the Khelo India Youth Games from 2019.

The KIYG began in 2018 with 18 sports. In 2025, when the 7^th edition of KIYG was held in Bihar, it featured 27 sports. So far, 17 editions of the Khelo India Games have been conducted, with participation from over 50,000 athletes.

More than 1,300 athletes each took part in the Khelo India Para Games 2023 and 2025.

KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification):

KIRTI is a nationwide initiative to identify and nurture sporting talent among children aged 9 to 18. The program uses Talent Assessment Centres (TACs) across the country, standardised protocols, and advanced IT tools (including AI and data analytics) for transparent, merit-based selection. There are 174 TACs in the country as of present.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS):

The government provides assistance to India’s top athletes for their preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Selected athletes are supported with funding from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for customised training and other support not available under normal schemes of the Ministry. Out of pocket allowance (OPA) is paid at Rs. 50,000/- per month to the Core group athletes. Further, a Development Group was added to support junior athletes with a stipend of Rs. 25,000/- per month. TOPS contributed to India’s medal-winning success in the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

FIT India Movement:

Fit India Movement was launched with a view to making fitness an integral part of our daily lives. The mission of the movement is to bring about behavioural changes and move towards a more physically active lifestyle. Key achievements under this scheme are:

• The first-ever Fit India Carnival, a three-day fitness and wellness festival, took place in March 2025 in New Delhi.
• A special online series titled ‘Fit India- Healthy Hindustan’ Programme, a talk show by eminent fitness experts and Fit India icons, was launched in 2023.
• Fit India Family Sessions were conducted, under this movement, on fitness with experts with the objective of inculcating fitness routine amongst families with simple and easy capsules.
• In October 2019, more than 1500 Fit India Plog Runs were organised across the country under the Fit India Movement.

Indian Performances at Major International Competitions:

Olympics:

India’s Olympic journey witnessed a remarkable transformation between 2016 and 2024, underscoring a new era of athletic excellence. From a modest haul of 2 medals in Rio 2016 by a 117-member contingent, India surged ahead to claim 7 medals at Tokyo 2020 and maintained a strong showing with 6 medals at Paris 2024, both with contingents of 117–119 athletes. Notable performers in this period include Neeraj Chopra, India’s first Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020) in athletics (javelin), and Mirabai Chanu, a consistent medalist in weightlifting.

Paralympics:

India’s Paralympic achievements have grown exponentially in the last three editions, reflecting a robust support system for differently-abled athletes. From 4 medals in Rio 2016 with 19 athletes, the tally jumped to 19 medals in Tokyo 2020 and peaked at 29 medals in Paris 2024, where 84 Indian athletes competed. This success includes 7 golds, 9 silvers, and 13 bronzes in 2024 alone, a testament to India’s growing prowess in para-sports. Prominent stars include Avani Lekhara in shooting, Sumit Antil in javelin, and Pramod Bhagat in badminton. The focused inclusion of para-athletes in programs like TOPS and Khelo India Para Games has helped elevate India as a rising force in global para-sports.

Asian Games:

India’s performances at the Asian Games reflect a steady rise in both participation and podium finishes. In Incheon 2014, the Indian contingent of 541 athletes won 57 medals. By Jakarta 2018, this increased to 570 athletes and 69 medals. The breakthrough came at Hangzhou 2023, where India sent its largest-ever contingent of 655 athletes and returned with a historic 107 medals—including 28 golds, 38 silvers, and 41 bronzes. Athletes like Neeraj Chopra in javelin, Lovlina Borgohain in boxing, and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in badminton contributed significantly to this record tally.

Commonwealth Games:

India has consistently demonstrated excellence at the Commonwealth Games. In Glasgow 2014, the 215-member contingent won 64 medals. The number rose to 66 medals in Gold Coast 2018 with 218 athletes and remained steady with 61 medals at Birmingham 2022 with 210 athletes. These medals span across diverse sports such as wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis, and athletics. Key performers include PV Sindhu in badminton, Vinesh Phogat in wrestling, and Achinta Sheuli in weightlifting.

Other Global Achievements:

• India won double gold at the 2024 FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
• Indian athletes won 22 medals at the 2023 ITTF Fa20 AI-Watani Para Table Tennis Championships in Jordan.
• India won the Gold medal in the Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.
• The Indian Badminton Men’s Team created history by winning the Thomas Cup in May 2022.
• The Indian contingent won 34 medals in the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Championship 2022 (Senior & Junior) held in Egypt.
• The Indian team finished on top in the ISSF Junior World Cup 2023 held in Germany.

Global Engagements and Diplomacy:

• The FIFA U-17 Women’s Football World Cup 2022 was held in 2022 in Bhubaneswar. This was the second major football event hosted in the last five years.
• India hosted several key international events related to sports, including:
  • 141^st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Mumbai in October 2023.
  • FIDE Chess Olympiad in Chennai in 2022.
  • BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship in New Delhi in 2024.
  • MotoGP Bharat in Noida in 2023.
• In 2023, the Indian Delegation led by the Secretary (Sports) participated in the Seventh International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sports (MINEPS VII) organised by UNESCO in Baku, Azerbaijan. India’s participation was significant, with a special Yoga session organised for the delegates.

Special Package for the Development of Sports Infrastructure of Jammu and Kashmir:

A special package of Rs. 200 crore for the development of sports infrastructure in the state of Jammu & Kashmir was approved in 2015. The renovation/up-gradation of existing stadiums and other works approved for capital districts, i.e. Srinagar and Jammu, was carried out by the Ministry. The estimated cost for these works was worked out to Rs. 84 crore.

Schemes and Programmes to Support Sportsmen in India:

India’s support for its athletes is now more structured and focused than ever. The approach is holistic, covering every stage of an athlete’s journey. From spotting raw talent in villages to backing Olympic medallists, the government has stepped up in a big way. A wide range of schemes now exist to meet the real needs of sportspersons—training, funding, facilities, and life after sport. Each step is designed to help athletes rise and stay at the top.

Awards and Recognition:

The National Sports Awards stand as the highest sporting honours in India, celebrating the exceptional achievements of athletes who have put India on the global sporting map. Presented annually, these prestigious awards recognise extraordinary performances at national and international events, while also fostering a spirit of sportsmanship that transcends borders. There is a total of six categories of awards that are given to sportspeople in India.

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan:

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) is one of the largest youth organisations in the world. NYKS has a presence in 623 districts through Nehru Yuva Kendras (NYKs). The areas of focus of the NYKS activities include literacy and education, health and family welfare, sanitation and cleanliness, environment conservation, awareness on social issues, women empowerment, rural development, skill development and self-employment, entrepreneurship development, civic education, disaster relief and rehabilitation, etc.