The Policy Shift In today’s Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the transition of the “Khelo India” program into the Khelo India Mission 2026-27. Unlike previous iterations, this mission focuses on a 10-year structural evolution to turn India into a global sports powerhouse.
Mission Pillars:
- Foundational Excellence Centers: Focus on grassroots talent in states like Jharkhand and Bihar.
- Sports Science Integration: Mandatory AI-driven performance tracking for elite U17 athletes.
- Commercialization: Incentives for private manufacturing of high-end sports equipment within India.
