As the Commonwealth Games 2026 unfold, India continues to strengthen its sports ecosystem to emerge as a global sporting power.
Current Facts & Data
- Budget: ₹4,479.88 crore allocated in Budget 2026–27, rising from ₹1,219 crore during 2013–14.
- Khelo India: 1,067 Centres, 267 academies, 349 projects with ₹3,176 crore investment by July 2026.
- Global Success: India won 107 Asian Games medals (2023) & 29 Paralympic medals (2024).
- Manufacturing Push: ₹500 crore allocated for sports goods manufacturing, strengthening Make in India and exports.
- AI Talent: KIRTI identified athletes through 1.87 lakh assessments across 174 centres
Importance of Sports for India
- Human Capital Development: Sports improve health, discipline, leadership and productivity while 65% Indians below 35 benefit through Khelo India.
- Economic Growth: Sports generate employment across sectors, with ₹500 crore boosting manufacturing under the Budget 2026–27 initiative.
- Social Inclusion: Sports empower women, tribals and PwDs while 29 Paralympic medals in 2024 showcase inclusive sporting excellence.
- National Integration: Sports transcend caste, religion, language and region with 63,000 Khelo India participants fostering national unity.
- Soft Power: Champions like Neeraj Chopra elevate India’s global image through Olympic success and sporting diplomacy worldwide.
India Emerging as a Global Sporting Power
- Rising Investments: Budget 2026–27 allocated a record ₹4,479.88 crore for sports, up from ₹1,219 crore in 2013–14.
- Global Success: India achieved a record 107 medals at the Asian Games 2023 and 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
- Grassroots Expansion: Khelo India has established 1,067 Centres, 267 academies, and supported 2,745 athletes by July 2026.
- Elite Performance: TOPS supports 233 athletes (Core, Para Core and Development), producing champions like Neeraj Chopra and Mirabai Chanu.
- Olympic Vision: KIRTI’s 1.87 lakh assessments and 174 Talent Assessment Centres aim to make India a Top-10 sporting nation by 2036.
Major Government Initiatives Strengthening India’s Sports Ecosystem
- Khelo India Scheme (2017): Flagship programme promoting grassroots sports through infrastructure, talent identification and athlete development.
- Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): Provides elite athletes financial assistance, foreign training, coaching, equipment and sports science support.
- KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification): Uses AI-based assessments to identify and nurture sporting talent among children aged 9–18 years.
- Fit India Movement (2019): Nationwide campaign encouraging physical fitness, active lifestyles and sports participation across schools, workplaces and communities.
- National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs): Sports Authority of India-operated high-performance centres providing world-class coaching, sports science and residential training.
- Sports Goods Manufacturing Initiative (2026): ₹500 crore initiative to boost domestic manufacturing, innovation and India’s position in global sports supply chains.
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Key Challenges to Becoming a Global Sporting Leader
- Grassroots Deficit: Nearly 70% of Indian schools lack adequate sports infrastructure, limiting early talent identification and participation.
- Regional Inequality: Over 65% of Indians live in rural areas, yet many athletes lack quality coaches, equipment and competitive exposure.
- Performance Support: India has only a limited network of sports science and high-performance centres, restricting access to nutritionists, psychologists and biomechanical experts.
- Governance Gaps: Governance challenges persist due to administrative delays, political interference, weak accountability within the federation, and slow implementation of sports reforms.
- Doping Challenge: India consistently records one of the highest anti-doping rule violations globally (WADA reports), demanding stronger awareness and enforcement.
Way Forward for India's Sports Ecosystem
- Strengthen Grassroots: Establish sports infrastructure in every school and district, expanding 1,067 Khelo India Centres nationwide.
- Build Excellence: Increase internationally certified coaches and district-level sports science centres through TOPS and SAI High Performance Centres.
- Reform Governance: Ensure transparent athlete selection, autonomous National Sports Federations and digital governance aligned with the National Sports Code.
- Boost Sports Economy: Scale the ₹500 crore sports goods manufacturing initiative through CSR, startups, sports tourism and global exports.
- Achieve Olympic Vision: Expand KIRTI talent identification, women and para-sports participation to achieve Top-10 by 2036 and Top-5 by 2047.
"Khelega India, Khilega India" guides India's journey towards a Top-10 sporting nation by 2036 through inclusive, world-class sports ecosystems.
Reference: PIB
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 764
Approach
- Introduction: Write a contextual introduction about India’s Sports Ecosystem.
- Body: Write how strengthening India's sports ecosystem contributes to human capital development & global sporting excellence; also mention key challenges & propose reforms to strengthen India's sports ecosystem.
- Conclusion: Emphasise inclusive, athlete-centric and transparent sports governance to achieve global excellence and Viksit Bharat 2047.
