Revamped Khelo India Scheme – Summary

• Khelo India is the flagship sports development scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Implementation Period: FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31.
• Total Outlay: ₹36,441 crore.
• Aligned with Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Objectives

• Promote sports at the grassroots level.
• Identify and nurture young sporting talent.
• Develop modern sports infrastructure.
• Create a pathway from school-level sports to international competitions.

Key Features

• Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs): Expands the athlete development programme with coaching and scientific support.
• School Integration: Introduces Khelo India Feeder Schools (KIFS) and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas (KIUV) for early talent identification.
• Training Ecosystem: Strengthens National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), and Youth Sports Companies (YSCs).
• National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB): Standardizes coaching quality and promotes sports science.
• Digital Sports Platform: Integrates athlete databases, talent tracking, and funding, while expanding the Fit India Movement.

Significance

• Provides a structured pathway from schools → Khelo India Centres → Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
• Strengthens support for National Sports Federations (NSFs) to improve coaching, training, and international performance.
• Expands India's talent pool and prepares athletes for global events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Prelims Facts

• Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Scheme Type: Central Sector Scheme
• Duration: FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31
• Outlay: ₹36,441 crore
• Policy Linkages: Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, NEP 2020
• New Initiatives: E-KIAs, KIFS, KIUV, NCAB
• Ultimate Goal: Build a strong grassroots-to-elite sports ecosystem in India.