India’s sporting ambitions have never been louder. Fresh off one of its most successful Commonwealth Games campaigns and with eyes firmly set on hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the country has taken one of its biggest policy decisions in recent years.
The Union Cabinet’s approval of a revamped Khelo India Scheme, backed by an unprecedented ₹29,054 crore outlay alongside ₹7,387 crore for the Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF), is more than a budgetary announcement. It is a declaration that India wants to transform itself from a nation that celebrates sporting success into one that systematically produces it.
At the heart of the new Khelo India framework lies a significant structural shift. For the first time since the programme was launched in 2017, states will become financial stakeholders in sports infrastructure development. Out of the total allocation, ₹28,489 crore will be contributed by the Centre, while ₹565 crore has been earmarked as the states’ share under a new cost-sharing model. The funding pattern introduces a tiered approach based on geography and developmental needs.
General category states will follow a 60:40 funding ratio, with the Centre contributing the larger share. North Eastern states and Himalayan states will receive 90 per cent central assistance, acknowledging the unique geographical and logistical challenges they face. Union Territories, meanwhile, will continue to receive complete central funding for infrastructure projects.
The change may appear administrative on paper, but its implications are substantial. Until now, sports infrastructure under Khelo India was almost entirely driven by central funding. States often acted as facilitators rather than equal partners in planning and execution. By introducing financial participation from state governments, the Centre is effectively attempting to create greater accountability and ownership in sports development.
“This demarcation was not there in the previous Khelo India Scheme and this has been done to make states a partner in the process and provide them ownership in the projects,” a Sports Ministry source said. That single statement perhaps explains the philosophy behind the revamped policy.
Sports infrastructure cannot thrive through one-time grants alone. Stadiums, synthetic tracks, indoor halls and high-performance centres require long-term maintenance, staffing and community integration. When states invest financially, they are also more likely to ensure that facilities remain functional long after ribbon-cutting ceremonies conclude.
The scale of the investment itself is noteworthy. The new outlay represents an eightfold increase over the previous Khelo India infrastructure allocation, underlining the government’s growing belief that sport deserves to be viewed as a national development priority rather than a peripheral welfare initiative.
India’s sporting ecosystem has expanded rapidly over the last decade. From Olympic medal winners and world champions to historic performances at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, the country has steadily improved its international standing. Yet one persistent challenge has remained the limited depth of the talent pipeline.
Currently, nearly 3,000 Khelo India athletes receive structured support across 22 sports disciplines. Under the revamped scheme, the Sports Ministry hopes to increase that number nearly ninefold, creating a much stronger bench of athletes capable of competing for places at the highest level.
That expansion is arguably the most important aspect of the policy. Elite success cannot depend on isolated prodigies. Sustainable sporting nations are built on numbers. The greater the pool of athletes receiving quality coaching, nutrition, sports science and competitive exposure, the greater the likelihood of producing Olympic and World Championship medallists.
Across several states, young athletes still travel long distances to access synthetic tracks, modern gyms or specialised coaching facilities. Many districts continue to lack basic sporting infrastructure despite producing talented athletes. The revised funding model offers an opportunity to reduce these disparities, provided states actively identify local needs instead of merely chasing marquee projects.
The government’s ambitions, however, extend far beyond grassroots development. Alongside Khelo India, the ₹7,387 crore Assistance to National Sports Federations scheme is expected to strengthen India’s international sporting aspirations. The funding will support major global events hosted by the country, beginning with this month’s Badminton World Championships in New Delhi. It will also back the Asian Athletics Relays next year, the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2028 and the World Police and Fire Games in 2029.
More importantly, ANSF funding is expected to play a central role in India’s preparations for the proposed 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the country’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The scheme, operational since 2001, has traditionally provided financial assistance to National Sports Federations, but its renewed role now aligns closely with India’s long-term sporting diplomacy and event-hosting ambitions.
Hosting global competitions has become an increasingly important part of India’s sports strategy. International events expose domestic athletes to world-class competition without the burden of overseas travel while simultaneously strengthening organisational capacity, volunteer networks and sporting infrastructure. Countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom and Japan have all used major sporting events as catalysts for long-term sports development. India now appears eager to follow a similar blueprint.
Past experiences have shown that delays in project execution, uneven distribution of facilities and bureaucratic hurdles can dilute even the most ambitious policies. Transparency in fund allocation, timely implementation and independent monitoring will ultimately determine whether these financial commitments translate into better outcomes on the field.
Equally important will be ensuring that infrastructure reaches districts and rural regions where untapped talent often resides, rather than remaining concentrated in metropolitan centres.
Yet there is little doubt that this represents one of the boldest investments India has ever made in sport. The conversation around Indian sport is gradually shifting from celebrating medals to building systems. That evolution is perhaps the clearest sign of a maturing sporting nation. The revamped Khelo India Scheme is not simply about constructing stadiums or increasing budgets.
It is about creating a framework where the Centre, states, federations and athletes share responsibility for India’s sporting future. But for a nation determined to become a global sporting power, this is undoubtedly a significant step in the right direction.
