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Khelo India Scheme 2026: Revamped Budget, Components, Eligibility and Complete Details

Updated: August 22, 2026By Sarkari Yojana Team37 views
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हिन्दीमराठीবাংলাગુજરાતીதமிழ்తెలుగుಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംਪੰਜਾਬੀଓଡ଼ିଆঅসমীয়া

Khelo India Scheme is a national scheme of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Union Cabinet approved a revamped and expanded version of this scheme on 31 July 2026 with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. This is nearly eight times the earlier scheme, making it one of the biggest sports development programmes in the country.

Khelo India was launched in 2017 to build a strong sports culture in India. It brought together three earlier programmes, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme and National Sports Talent Search Scheme, into one framework. The scheme focuses on talent identification, coaching, competitions, infrastructure and fitness for young athletes across the country. The central govt. runs this scheme fully with its own funds.

Contents hide
What is Khelo India Scheme
Revamped Khelo India Scheme 2026
Components of Khelo India Scheme
Eligibility Criteria for Khelo India Scheme
Objectives of Khelo India Scheme
Games under Khelo India
Official Website and Application
FAQ's

What is Khelo India Scheme

Khelo India Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, fully implemented by the Union Government. It aims to promote sports at the grass-root level and create a clear path for young athletes from school playgrounds to the Olympic podium. The scheme covers school, college and university level competitions and supports athletes with coaching, equipment, medical care and a monthly allowance.

As of July 2026, the scheme has approved 349 new sports infrastructure projects with a total investment of ₹3,176 crore. It has set up 1,067 Khelo India Centres, supported 267 academies and given support to 2,745 Khelo India Athletes. More than 63,000 athletes have taken part in Khelo India Games since 2018.

Detail Information
Scheme Name Khelo India Scheme
Launched By Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Launch Year 2017
Revamped Outlay ₹36,441 crore (2026-27 to 2030-31)
Beneficiaries Young athletes, school and college students
Official Website kheloindia.gov.in

Revamped Khelo India Scheme 2026

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced assistance to National Sports Federations on 31 July 2026. The combined outlay is ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31. The revamped scheme replaces the earlier five-component structure with nine components.

The new scheme creates a complete athlete development pathway. It brings together National Centres of Excellence, Khelo India Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India Accredited Academies, Khelo India Centres and Youth Sports Companies of the Armed Forces. It also introduces Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas to link sports with mainstream education.

A new Emerging Khelo India Athletes category will expand the athlete pool nearly ten times. A National Coach Accreditation Board will raise coaching standards, and a unified digital sports platform will bring athlete data, infrastructure, competitions, coaching and funding into one place.

Components of Khelo India Scheme

The revamped Khelo India Scheme has nine components that cover the whole sports ecosystem, from training centres to competitions and infrastructure. The earlier scheme had twelve components, which are given below.

Khelo India Scheme Components

Eligibility Criteria for Khelo India Scheme

Khelo India Scheme is open to young athletes across the country. The eligibility depends on the age group and the competition category. The basic criteria are given below.

  • Candidates below the age of 17 can take part in the under-17 category.
  • Candidates below the age of 21 can take part in the under-21 category.

Objectives of Khelo India Scheme

Khelo India Scheme aims to make sports a central part of national, community and individual development. The main objectives are given below.

  • To promote Sports for All and Sports for Excellence across the country.
  • To identify and support talented athletes with coaching, equipment and financial help.
  • To create a long-term development path for athletes from the grass-root level to the international level.
  • To build sports infrastructure and strengthen the whole sports ecosystem.
  • To promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle among school children.
  • To use technology for talent search, sports training and athlete tracking.

Games under Khelo India

Khelo India covers many sports and competitions at different levels. The main events under the scheme are given below.

  • Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) - Check Details
  • Khelo India University Games (KIUG) - Check Details
  • Khelo India School Games (KISG) - Check Details
  • Khelo India Para Games (KIPG)
  • Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG)
  • Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG)

Official Website and Application

Khelo India official website is kheloindia.gov.in. The website gives details about the scheme, competitions, registration and latest updates. Young athletes, schools and colleges can find information about Khelo India Games and other programmes on the official portal.

For more details, see the official Khelo India website at kheloindia.gov.in.

FAQ's

Who launched Khelo India Scheme?

Khelo India Scheme was launched by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2017 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

What is the budget of the revamped Khelo India Scheme?

The revamped Khelo India Scheme has a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.

Who can apply for Khelo India Scheme?

Young athletes below the age of 21 can take part in Khelo India competitions. The scheme covers school, college and university level athletes.

Play Field Development Community Coaching Development State Level Khelo India Centres
Annual Sports Competitions Talent Search and Development Use and Creation / Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure
Support to National/Regional/State Sports Academies Physical Fitness of School going Children Sports for Women
Promotion of Sports among persons with disabilities (PWDs) Sports for Peace and Development Promotion of rural and indigenous/tribal games

Related Latest Updates

28 Aug, 2026, 12:00 AM Jitendra Singh Highlights Khelo India Impact at IIM Jammu

Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh joined Khelo India Samvaad at IIM Jammu on August 27, 2026. This meeting looked at how sports help youth build discipline. The Minister said the government is moving away from the old job-seeking mindset. Instead, it is pushing for entrepreneurship and self-reliance through various schemes.

Supporting future athletes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the group online. He explained the plan to find and train talent for the 2036 Olympics. He suggested a new search for talented children between 10 and 15 years old. The Minister pointed out that schemes like MUDRA Yojana, SVANidhi Yojana, and Vishwakarma Yojana are helping youth earn a steady income across the country.

27 Aug, 2026, 5:12 PM Government Focuses on Startup Ecosystem and Youth Empowerment

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh recently pointed out that the government is moving away from the Sarkari Naukri mindset. Instead, it is focusing on helping Indian youth start businesses and become self-reliant. At the Khelo India event in IIM Jammu, the Minister shared that India now ranks third in the world with more than 2.40 lakh recognized startups.

Business support schemes

Several schemes are helping this change. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has given out nearly ₹38 lakh crore to business owners. Women make up 60 percent of these beneficiaries. Other programs like the SVANidhi Yojana and Vishwakarma Yojana also give people ways to earn a living. The government stays committed to these youth programs to help build a developed India by 2047.

13 Aug, 2026, 5:04 PM Youth Empowerment Initiatives Across India

India is working on youth development to reach goals for Viksit Bharat 2047. The Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) platform is the main part of this, with over 2.22 crore young people between ages 15 and 29 registered by July 2026. This online space helps with volunteering, leadership, and learning from experience.

Progress in education and startups

Government changes to the school system have helped. Dropout rates for secondary schools are now at 7 percent, and higher education enrollment has hit 4.5 crore. Digital schemes like SWAYAM and DIKSHA offer flexible learning, with over 35.27 crore APAAR IDs issued by August 12, 2026. Also, the startup scene has grown to include over 2.47 lakh active startups.

Skill training is a top priority. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana has trained over 1.64 crore youth. The new PM-SETU project plans to improve 1,000 government ITIs with a budget of Rs 60,000 crore. In sports, Khelo India supports 2,745 athletes with better facilities and money help. Health programs like Tele-MANAS have answered over 43.70 lakh calls, and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has reached 11.86 crore youth to support better habits.

1 Aug, 2026, 5:00 AM Union Cabinet Approves Major Welfare and Infrastructure Schemes

Narendra Modi recently announced cabinet decisions meant to help national growth. These plans support farmers, train young athletes, and secure energy for the country.

Important scheme updates

The government extended PM-KISAN Scheme until 2030-31. This keeps money help going for landholding farmers. Officials also updated Khelo India Scheme to give athletes better training and modern equipment.

To help energy independence, the cabinet approved Samudra Manthan for offshore oil and gas work. Also, Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana will support clean energy by building floating solar projects on water bodies across the country.

31 Jul, 2026, 8:09 PM Cabinet Approves Major Schemes for Farmers and Energy Security

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a package of ₹4,50,988 crore across five major government decisions. These plans help the farm sector, energy independence, and sports facilities across the country.

Details of new decisions

The plans include a five-year extension for PM-KISAN with a total budget of ₹3.15 lakh crore. Also, the government launched the Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme and PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, which focus on floating solar power projects. The cabinet also approved a ₹36,441 crore expansion for the Khelo India program to support national sports development.

31 Jul, 2026, 7:19 PM Union Cabinet Approves Major ₹4 Lakh Crore Development Package

Union Cabinet has approved a ₹4 lakh crore investment package. This funding covers four areas: agriculture, sports, renewable energy, and offshore exploration. These steps form part of a long-term plan to grow the economy and reach the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.

Details of Approved Schemes

Government has extended PM-KISAN until 2031. This ₹3.15 lakh crore budget supports farmers. Sports development grows through the expansion of Khelo India Scheme, which receives ₹36,441 crore to build training paths for athletes.

For clean energy, Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana focuses on floating solar projects with an outlay of ₹5,070 crore. Finally, Samudra Manthan scheme invests ₹84,084 crore to increase offshore oil and gas exploration and help energy security.

6 comments

sir we can apply for badminton trial for this khelo india and what is the process to enter this scheme