Khelo India (2016): A Policy Review Of Its Evolution, Performance And Recent Reforms

Policy Update
Sneha Kohli

Background

The Khelo India- National Programme for Development of Sports- was launched in 2016-17 and emerged as a unified national framework following the restructuring of earlier sports-development initiatives. The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grassroots level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establishing India as a great sporting nation. (Sports Authority of India, n.d., Khelo India).

It was launched with its twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports across the country. (Press Information Bureau, 2024) The programme created a strong foundation for Indian Sport, bringing together 3 existing schemes including Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme and National Sports Talent Search Scheme into a unified framework for sports development in India. However the schemes could not take off largely owing to the lack of co-ordination and a combined vision of the Centre and the States. Therefore, this led to the inception of Khelo India. (Press Information Bureau, 2021)

The programme has evolved since 2017 through different phases of implementation. The 2026 revamp marks a shift towards a more outcome-oriented and integrated athlete-development framework, linking grassroots participation with high-performance pathways. The programme seeks to create a clear pathway from grassroots participation to global podiums including the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the country’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Press Information Bureau, 2026)

Functioning

Under the earlier operational framework for 2021–22 to 2025–26, Khelo India was implemented across 12 verticals, reflecting its broader focus on participation, talent development, inclusion and infrastructure:

Khelo India’s 12 verticals under the earlier implementation framework

Source: PIB report, Khelega India Khilega India

Now, the Khelo India scheme follows a comprehensive approach to strengthen every stage of the sporting ecosystem. Its five key pillars are: (Press Information Bureau, 2026)

Establishing training centres at different levels to identify talented athletes and guide them towards professional excellence.
Building the capacity of coaches and support staff through dedicated development programmes.
Expanding the use of sports science and advanced technology to improve athlete performance.
Organising competitions and leagues to promote a vibrant sporting culture and provide competitive opportunities.
Developing sports infrastructure to support both training and competitive events.

Khelo India aims to provide young sportspersons with structured support at every stage, from talent identification and scientific training to international exposure and Olympic preparation. The nationwide athlete development ecosystem brings together:

National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs)
Khelo India Centres of Excellence (KICs)
SAI Training Centres
Khelo India Accredited Academies
Khelo India Centres (KICs)
Youth Sports Companies of the Armed Forces

Together, these institutions provide modern sports infrastructure, professional coaching, and sports science support to athletes across the country. This integrated pathway strengthens the transition from grassroots talent identification to elite-level sporting performance, ensuring that athletes receive continuous support throughout their development.

This athlete development pathway is supported by a coordinated implementation mechanism that brings together various government bodies, sports federations and other stakeholders. Khelo India competitions are implemented through a multi-stakeholder framework involving the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), National Sports Federations (NSFs), SGFI, AIU/University Sports Boards, State/UT Governments and other stakeholders. MYAS provides financial assistance and overall administrative oversight, while host States/UTs are responsible for organising the events and ensuring the required sports and host-city infrastructure.

An Organising Committee, an Executive Committee headed by the host State/UT leadership, and a Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) comprising ministry representatives, sports experts and NSF representatives oversee the administrative and technical conduct of the competitions. This framework ensures coordinated planning, financing, infrastructure provision and monitoring of Khelo India events. (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, 2021)

Funding Structure
The funding structure of the scheme over the years is as follows: (Press Information Bureau, 2026)

2017–18 to 2019–20: ₹1,756 crore approved for three years to revamp the scheme.
2020–21: Allocation of ₹328.77 crore for one year.
2021–22 to 2025–26: Financial outlay increased to ₹3,790.50 crore for five years, expanding activities and strengthening sports infrastructure.

For 2026–27, Khelo India has been allocated ₹924.35 crore. The revamped Khelo India Scheme together with enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations, carries a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026–27 to 2030–31.

Performance

As of July 2026, the following are the key achievements of Khelo India Scheme as noted by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports:

349 new sports infrastructure projects approved, with a total investment of ₹3,176 crore.
1,067 Khelo India Centres (KICs) established to strengthen grassroots training and athlete support.
267 academies are supported to nurture sporting talent across disciplines.
2,745 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) supported with coaching, equipment, medical care and a monthly out of pocket allowance.

Khelo India’s performance can also be assessed through its state-wise expansion of sports infrastructure. The scheme has supported varied forms of infrastructure development across states, reflecting both the expansion of sporting facilities and attempts to address regional gaps in access. Arunachal Pradesh has emphasised hall-based sporting facilities, while Gujarat has advanced higher-value projects associated with its sports-city vision. Haryana has developed facilities across disciplines such as tracks, aquatics and hockey, Rajasthan has undertaken projects across multiple locations, and Uttar Pradesh has recorded a substantial share of multipurpose halls.

At the national level, the sanctioned infrastructure portfolio encompasses a diverse range of facilities, including indoor halls, athletic tracks, swimming pools and hockey/football fields, indicating an increasingly broad-based approach to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem (Jain & Viswanathan, 2026).

State-level Khelo India Centres and training infrastructure

Source: PIB report, Khelega India Khilega India

Impact

Khelo India has contributed to a shift from fragmented sports-development initiatives towards a more integrated and structured sporting ecosystem. Its national-level competitions have expanded opportunities for young athletes, while dedicated talent-identification mechanisms, academies and Centres of Excellence have strengthened the pathway from grassroots participation to competitive and high-performance sport. Earlier evidence also indicates that the programme expanded access to sporting infrastructure beyond major urban centres and supported greater participation among women, Divyang athletes, indigenous sporting communities and youth from geographically or socio-economically disadvantaged regions. The use of digital tools for fitness assessment and talent identification has further enabled the identification of sporting potential at an earlier stage. (Press Information Bureau, 2022).

The 2026–27 revamp marks a further shift from measuring inputs and infrastructure towards measurable sporting outcomes. With a financial outlay of ₹924.35 crore for Khelo India, the Outcome Budget sets targets for organising six national-level Khelo India Games, increasing participation in funded competitions by 10%, and accrediting 32 academies. More significantly, the outcome framework links athlete-development initiatives to sporting performance, targeting 1,500 national championship medals and 600 international medals by Khelo India Athletes during 2026–27. This represents a move towards Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), where the effectiveness of the scheme is increasingly assessed not only through the number of centres, academies or athletes supported, but also through competitive performance and progression towards sporting excellence (Ministry of Finance, 2026).

This outcome-oriented approach is consistent with the broader 2026–31 reform, which seeks to create a structured pathway connecting early talent identification, scientific training, competitive exposure and high-performance sport. The revamped framework also envisages a substantial expansion of the athlete pool and stronger integration between grassroots institutions and elite sporting pathways.

Emerging Issues

Despite significant policy attention and expanding investment in Khelo India, several structural and social challenges continue to constrain the development of an inclusive and sustainable grassroots sports ecosystem in India. The following are some emerging issues of Khelo India scheme: (Solvik, 2026)

Difficulty in building community sports: Structural and social barriers continue to limit grassroots sports development in India. These challenges include unequal access to facilities, financial constraints and social barriers which operate at multiple levels reinforcing one another. These affect both participation and talent advancement of youth.
Lack of funding and resources: There is a severe shortage of playgrounds, equipment, and training facilities in many communities and schools. Investment has improved, but coverage remains unequal especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. Athlete development is also affected by financial limitations. So, because athletes do not feel supported, talented people frequently quit before they reach their full potential.
Lack of experienced trainers: Coaching at the youth level is typically more casual and lacks familiarity with current practices in sports science, athlete development, and training. This has an impact on avoiding injuries and performing well in the long run, in addition to skill development. A significant disproportionate gap persists in society due to limited access to professional coaching despite efforts by Sports Authority of India.
Gender Inequality and Social Barriers: Many communities do not prioritize women’s sports, which results in lower participation rates and less possibilities. Safety worries, an absence of female coaches, and inadequate facilities all work against participation.
Academic Pressure and Societal Attitude towards sports: There is less time and less incentive for young people to participate in physical activities due to academic pressure and societal expectations that place a premium on education over athletics. Parents and communities still do not fully understand the long-term advantages of sports.

Way Forward

The following are the policy recommendations to enhance the Khelo India Scheme, focusing on different aspects for holistic development of sports sector in India: (Solvik, 2026)

Strengthening the existing athlete development ecosystem: Further strengthen the existing Khelo India pathway by ensuring effective linkages between grassroots centres, schools, academies and higher-performance institutions, particularly in rural and disadvantaged regions. This can help ensure that the opportunities created through the programme translate into sustained athlete progression from grassroots participation to national and international competition.
Ensuring adequate funding and resources: Provide sustained investment in playgrounds, equipment and training facilities while extending financial support for athletes’ coaching, nutrition, transportation and competition-related expenses.
Strengthening coaching and institutional capacity: Increase the availability of qualified coaches and trained physical education teachers, particularly at the grassroots level, with greater emphasis on sports science, athlete development and injury prevention. Partnerships with organisations such as the Sports Authority of India can support this effort.
Promoting gender-inclusive and accessible sports: Improve the availability of safe and adequate facilities, female coaches and supportive sporting environments to encourage greater participation among women and other underserved groups.
Integrating sports into the education system: Make regular physical education, multi-sport exposure and inter-school competitions an integral part of school education, supported by adequate infrastructure and trained PE teachers. Introduce flexible timetables, while creating greater awareness among parents and educators about the cognitive, health and developmental benefits of sports. This will help in balancing academics with sports.

References

Ministry of Finance. (2026). Outcome budget 2026–27. Government of India. https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/OutcomeBudgetE2026_2027.pdf

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. (2021). Operational guidelines of Khelo India Scheme (2021–22 to 2025–26). Government of India. https://kheloindia.gov.in/uploads/Khelo-India-Scheme-Operational-Guidelines.pdf

Press Information Bureau. (2021, November 6). Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports [Factsheet]. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/nov/doc20221118129701.pdf

Press Information Bureau. (2024, November 28). Implementation of Khelo India Scheme. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2078544&reg=48&lang=2

Press Information Bureau. (2026, August 3). The making of a sporting nation: Khelo India and the road to international excellence. Government of India. https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2026/aug/doc202683941901.pdf

Shobhit Jain and J. Viswanathan, “Assessing Infrastructure and Accessibility in Physical Education and Sports in India,” Chapter 10, in the edited volume Physical Education in India: Tradition, Development, and Contemporary Perspectives, edited by Usha Sujit Nair.
https://books.google.co.in/books?id=R_bZEQAAQBAJ&lpg=PT40&ots=eD2cUTjJ88&dq=khelo%20india%20scheme&lr&pg=PT42#v=onepage&q=khelo%20india%20scheme&f=false

Solvik, M. (2026). Policies, obstacles, and opportunities for the future of India’s grassroots sports. The Sankalpa: International Journal of Management Decisions, 12(2), 309–313.

Sports Authority of India. (n.d.). About Khelo India. Khelo India. https://kheloindia.gov.in/about.html

About the Contributor

Sneha Kohli is a third-year B.A. (Hons.) Political Science student at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She has a keen interest in public policy, governance, and policy research, with prior experience in research projects, policy analysis, and academic writing. She values curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborative learning, and looks forward to contributing to and learning from IMPRI’s research ecosystem.

Acknowledgment

The author extends sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team for their expert guidance and to Amrutha Kolluru and Prisha Sachdeva for their valuable feedback and support.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in the article belong solely to the author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the organisation.