The overall budget allocated to Sports Ministry was INR 4479.88 crore, an increase of INR 1133.34 crore from the 2025-26 revised allocation of INR 3346.54 crore.
Sports Authority of India (SAI), the nodal body for the conduct of national camps and logistical arrangements for athletes’ training, was allocated an enhanced budget of INR 880 crore to INR 917.38 crore.
SAI is also responsible for maintaining and utilizing stadiums across India.
Meanwhile, the sports goods manufacturing sector received a major boost with a first-time allocation of INR 500 crore.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman believes India can emerge as a global hub for high quality and affordable sports goods.
“I propose a dedicated initiative for sports goods that will promote manufacturing, research and innovation in equipment design as well as material sciences,” she said during her budget speech.
Notably, the previous budgets did not include provisions for sports goods-related sectors. It is likely that the initiative will boost sports goods manufacturing start-ups in the country under the ‘Make in India’ scheme.
Focus On Khelo India
The government’s flagship Khelo India programme received an allocation of INR 924.35 crore. Notably, last year the allocation of INR 1000 crore but the final expenditure was INR 700 crore.
The Khelo India programme was launched in 2017.
“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,” Sitharaman said during her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha.
“The mission will facilitate: (a) an integrated talent development pathway supported by training centres which are foundational, intermediate and elite levels; (b) systematic development of coaches and support staff; (c) integration of sports science and technology; (d) competitions and leagues to promote sports culture and provide platforms; (e) development of sports infrastructure for training and competition.”
Commonwealth Games assistance fee has been hiked from INR 28.05 crore to INR 50 crore this year, a 78 per cent increase from last year.
National Sports University allocation took a hit as the fund was reduced from INR 78.64 crore to INR 46.98 crore.
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