West Bengal Sports Minister Dr Indranil Khan has welcomed the Union Cabinet’s approval of an expanded Khelo India Scheme and enhanced assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs), saying the initiative will create greater opportunities for young athletes and strengthen India’s sporting pipeline.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026–27 to 2030–31 for the expanded Khelo India programme and ANSF support. The government has described the initiative as one of India’s most ambitious investments in sports since Independence.
Khan said the increased support would benefit athletes in West Bengal, where the state government plans to establish 100 indoor sports arenas, while each Assembly constituency is proposed to receive ₹5 crore for sports development.
“We are thankful to the Honourable Prime Minister for the way he has encouraged sports and sportspersons. We are gearing up to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and the Olympics in 2036, while also improving our podium finishes,” Khan told SAI Media.
He said Khelo India had emerged as a major platform for developing athletes from the grassroots to the professional level through coaching, nutrition, sports science and competitive exposure.
The revamped programme seeks to establish a nationwide athlete-development pathway spanning schools, grassroots centres, academies and National Centres of Excellence. New initiatives, including Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas, are aimed at identifying sporting talent at an early age and integrating sports with mainstream education.
The scheme will also introduce the Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs) category, substantially expanding the number of young athletes receiving structured coaching, scientific support and long-term mentoring. A strengthened talent-identification network will track promising athletes and create a progression route from grassroots competitions to Khelo India and, ultimately, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
The expanded programme places additional emphasis on women athletes, para-athletes and indigenous sports, while strengthening domestic competitions, sports science, coaching standards and digital sports infrastructure. A proposed National Coach Accreditation Board will seek to standardise coaching qualifications and professionalise the coaching ecosystem.
The strengthened ANSF scheme will support national federations in areas including coaching, sports science, equipment, international exposure, training camps, foreign expertise and participation in major global competitions.
Khan also highlighted the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative, saying sports and fitness can play an important role in encouraging young people to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles.
“This initiative will spread awareness among the youth about the importance of leading a drug-free, healthy life. This will help the nation reach major milestones in every field,” he said.
The expanded Khelo India programme is intended to create a seamless pathway from the school playground to the international podium, while strengthening India’s long-term ambition of becoming a leading global sporting nation.
