New Delhi: In a major push for sports, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to launch the Khelo India Mission during the 2026 Union Budget session on Sunday, February 01. Presenting her 9th Budget in the Parliament, Finance Minister Sitharaman unveiled the government’s plans to transform the sports sector in the country over the next decade.

With India set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and aiming to bid for the Olympics in 2036, a major push was expected for sports in the 2026 Union Budget. On expected lines, the Finance Minister announced a multi-year investment plan to strengthen the sporting infrastructure, recognising the sector as a significant driver for economic growth.

Aiming to build around the foundation set by the Khelo India programme, launched by the government in 2017, Sitharaman unveiled the ten-year plan to transform the sporting landscape of the country through the Khelo India Mission.

The initiative will focus on nurturing athletes across all disciplines while developing sporting infrastructure and training centres for athletes. It also aims at ensuring systematic development of coaches, support staff and the integration of technology in the sports sector. The initiative also aims to promote more leagues and competitions across sports.

The Khelo India Mission also aims at helping India become a major sports manufacturing hub in the next few years through the design and production of sports gear under the ‘Make in India’ banner.

“The sports sector provides multiple avenues for employment, skilling and job opportunities. Taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent which is set in motion through the Khelo India programme, I propose to launch a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade,” said the Finance Minister during her speech.