Khelo India Scheme: Building India’s Sporting Excellence

Why in News?

As the Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026, India has entered another important phase in its sporting journey. This is India’s 19th Commonwealth Games appearance, continuing a legacy that began in 1934.

India’s Sporting Transformation

• Sport is no longer viewed only as recreation. It is increasingly seen as a tool for national pride, youth development, social unity and international recognition.
• India’s greatest sporting strength lies in its youth. Around 65% of India’s population is below 35 years of age. Recognising this demographic potential, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been expanding programmes for mass participation and elite performance.
• The Union Budget 2026–27 allocated a record ₹4,479.88 crore to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, compared to ₹1,219 crore in 2013–14. This reflects the increasing policy priority given to sports development.

Khelo India Programme

The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2017 to create a strong foundation for Indian sports.

It brought together three earlier schemes:

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan
• Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme
• National Sports Talent Search Scheme

The programme aims to build a complete sporting ecosystem by supporting grassroots participation, infrastructure development, athlete training, competitions, sports science and talent identification.

Five Pillars of Khelo India

The Khelo India Scheme follows a comprehensive approach based on five major pillars.

1. Training Centres

The programme establishes training centres at different levels to identify talented athletes and guide them towards professional excellence.

2. Capacity Building

It focuses on building the capacity of coaches and support staff through dedicated development programmes.

3. Sports Science and Technology

Khelo India promotes the use of sports science, psychology, nutrition and advanced technology to improve athlete performance.

4. Competitions and Leagues

The scheme organises competitions and leagues to build a vibrant sporting culture and provide competitive exposure.

5. Sports Infrastructure

It supports development of sports infrastructure for both training and competitive events.

Key Achievements of Khelo India

As of July 2026, Khelo India has achieved important progress.

The programme provides athletes with coaching, equipment, medical care and monthly out-of-pocket allowance. It is helping create a strong pipeline of future champions.

Khelo India Games: Stage for Future Champions

• The Khelo India movement entered a major phase with the launch of the Khelo India School Games in 2018 in New Delhi.
• From 2019, the event was renamed the Khelo India Youth Games after the Indian Olympic Association joined the initiative.

The Khelo India Games have expanded over time:

Since 2018, more than 63,000 athletes have participated in the Khelo India Games. These competitions give young athletes a national platform to compete, improve and prepare for higher levels.

Supporting Initiatives for Sporting Excellence

1. Target Olympic Podium Scheme

• The Target Olympic Podium Scheme was launched in September 2014 to improve India’s performance at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• It was revamped in April 2018 with a dedicated technical support team.

TOPS supports athletes through:

• foreign training
• international competitions
• coaching camps
• specialised equipment
• monthly stipend

As of April 2026, TOPS supports:

TOPS played an important role in India’s medal-winning performances at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

2. KIRTI

Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) identifies and nurtures sporting talent among children aged 9 to 18 years.

It uses:

• Talent Assessment Centres
• standardised assessment protocols
• Artificial Intelligence
• data analytics
• advanced IT tools

KIRTI aims to ensure transparent and merit-based selection. It also seeks to build a long-term talent pipeline to help India become a top 10 sporting nation by 2036 and a top 5 sporting nation by 2047.

3. Sports Goods Manufacturing

The Union Budget 2026–27 announced a dedicated initiative for sports goods manufacturing with an allocation of ₹500 crore.

Its objectives include:

• expanding domestic manufacturing capacity
• promoting research and innovation in equipment design
• advancing material sciences
• strengthening India’s role in global sports supply chains
• generating employment in manufacturing and allied sectors

This initiative links sports development with Make in India, employment and industrial growth.

India’s Rise on the Global Sporting Stage

India’s improved sporting ecosystem is reflected in its performance at major international events.

1. Olympic Games

India’s Olympic performance improved significantly from 2 medals in Rio 2016 to 7 medals in Tokyo 2020, followed by 6 medals in Paris 2024.

2. Paralympic Games

India’s Paralympic rise has been remarkable, with Paris 2024 becoming India’s best-ever Paralympic campaign.

3. Asian Games

The Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games became a landmark edition, with India recording its highest-ever medal tally of 107 medals.

4. Commonwealth Games

India has remained a strong performer at the Commonwealth Games, especially in sports such as weightlifting, wrestling, badminton, table tennis and athletics.

Commonwealth Games 2026

The Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026.

Key facts:

• athletes from 74 countries are participating
• the Games include a 10-sport programme
• there are six fully integrated Para Sports
• events are hosted at four venues
• India has sent a 124-member contingent
• the contingent includes 78 male and 46 female athletes

As of 27 July 2026, India had won four medals: one gold, two silver and one bronze. Indian athletes continue to compete in several events.

Significance

1. Builds a Strong Sporting Culture

Khelo India encourages mass participation and creates sporting opportunities from school to university and beyond.

2. Strengthens Grassroots Talent Identification

Khelo India Centres, KIRTI and local training structures help identify talent at an early age.

3. Supports Elite Performance

TOPS helps high-performing athletes prepare for Olympic and Paralympic success through targeted support.

4. Promotes Inclusivity

Khelo India Para Games, Tribal Games, Beach Games and University Games expand opportunities across different groups and regions.

5. Uses Science and Technology

AI, data analytics, sports science, nutrition and psychology are increasingly used to improve athlete performance.

6. Links Sports with Economy

Sports goods manufacturing creates opportunities in domestic production, innovation and employment.

7. Enhances National Pride

International sporting success unites citizens and strengthens India’s global image.

Challenges

1. Grassroots Access Gaps

Sports facilities are still unevenly distributed across regions.

2. Coaching Quality

India needs more trained coaches, physiotherapists, sports psychologists and performance analysts.

3. Athlete Nutrition and Health

Long-term athlete development requires sustained nutrition, medical care and injury management.

4. Rural-Urban Divide

Many talented athletes in rural areas still face barriers in accessing professional training.

5. Infrastructure Maintenance

Creating infrastructure is not enough; facilities must be maintained and used effectively.

6. Transition to Elite Level

India must ensure that young athletes identified at grassroots level receive continuous support till elite competition.

Way Forward

India should strengthen the link between school sports, university competitions, district-level training centres, academies and elite athlete support. Sports science, nutrition, mental conditioning and injury prevention must be made accessible beyond metropolitan centres. KIRTI’s data-driven talent identification should be expanded across more States and Union Territories. Sports goods manufacturing should be linked with innovation, quality standards and global supply chains.

A long-term athlete development model will be essential if India wants to become a leading sporting nation by 2036 and 2047.

Conclusion

India’s sporting journey is moving from isolated success to a structured national ecosystem. The Khelo India programme, supported by TOPS, KIRTI, sports infrastructure and manufacturing initiatives, is creating pathways from grassroots participation to international excellence. With sustained investment, scientific training and inclusive access, India can build a generation of athletes capable of competing confidently on the world stage.