The Making of a Sporting Nation

Key Highlights:

• The Union Cabinet approved the revamped Khelo India Scheme with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026–27 to 2030–31, including enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations.
• The scheme aims to create a clear pathway from grassroots participation to global podiums through talent identification, coaching, and athlete support.
• Khelo India has expanded to include Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas for early talent identification and integration with education.
• India achieved its best-ever Paralympic performance at Paris 2024 with 29 medals and its highest-ever Asian Games tally of 107 medals at Hangzhou 2023.
• India secured fourth place at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with 39 medals, including 13 gold.
• Initiatives like Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) support elite and emerging athletes.

Detailed Insights:

• The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2017, merged the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and National Sports Talent Search Scheme.
• Its five pillars include establishing training centres, building coach capacity, expanding sports science, organizing competitions, and developing infrastructure.
• The scheme envisions one Khelo India Training Centre in every district and promotes structured athlete pathways with sports science, psychology, and nutrition.
• The new Emerging Khelo India Athletes category aims to significantly expand the structured athlete pool.
• TOPS, launched in 2014 and revamped in 2018, provides holistic assistance, including foreign training, international competitions, and a monthly stipend to elite athletes.
• KIRTI identifies and nurtures sporting talent aged 9-18 using advanced IT tools and aims for India to be a top 10 sporting nation by 2036 and top 5 by 2047.
• The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated ₹500 crore for a dedicated initiative to strengthen sports goods manufacturing in India.
• The scheme aligns with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy 2020, integrating sports with education, fitness, and high-performance training.
• It supports preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, India’s Olympic and Paralympic hosting ambitions, and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Khelo India Scheme: A national programme launched by the Government of India to promote sports at the grassroots level and build a strong framework for all sports played in the country.
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): A flagship program by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide financial and logistical support to India's top athletes for Olympic and Paralympic success.
• Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI): An initiative focused on identifying and nurturing young sporting talent (9-18 years) using scientific assessment methods.
• Viksit Bharat@2047: A vision for India to become a developed nation by 2047, encompassing various sectors including sports and human development.