New Delhi: Signalling a strong push to position India as a global hub for high-quality and affordable sports goods, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced a dedicated national initiative for sports goods while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 in Parliament.
The announcement aligns with the first of the Budget’s three guiding kartavyas—to accelerate and sustain economic growth by enhancing productivity and competitiveness, and building resilience to volatile global dynamics. The proposed initiative aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing, research and innovation in the sports goods sector, covering both equipment design and advanced material sciences, thereby enhancing India’s export competitiveness and industrial capabilities.
In another major step to strengthen the country’s sporting ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced the launch of a Khelo India Mission, which will build on the momentum generated by the existing Khelo India programme. Highlighting the sector’s employment potential, Sitharaman noted that sports offer wide-ranging opportunities in jobs, skilling and entrepreneurship, particularly for youth.
“The sports sector provides multiple means of employment, skilling and job opportunities. Taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent which is set in motion through the Khelo India programme, I propose to launch a Khelo India Mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade,” the Finance Minister said in her Budget speech.
The proposed Khelo India Mission is aligned with the Budget’s second kartavya—to fulfil the aspirations of the people and build their capacity as active partners in India’s journey towards prosperity. According to the Finance Minister, the Mission will focus on creating a holistic and integrated sports development framework across the country.
Key components of the Mission include the establishment of an integrated talent development pathway, supported by training centres at foundational, intermediate and elite levels; systematic development of coaches and support staff; and the integration of sports science and modern technology into training systems. The Mission will also promote competitions and leagues to strengthen sports culture and provide athletes with regular platforms, along with the development of modern sports infrastructure for training and competitive events.
Together, the sports goods initiative and the proposed Khelo India Mission reflect the Government’s intent to combine manufacturing, innovation, talent development and infrastructure creation, positioning sports as a key driver of economic growth, employment generation and national pride in the coming decade.