J&K Budget 2026-27: Sports infrastructure gets major boost, emphasis on digital athlete ecosystem and sports tourism as well

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has allocated ₹155 crore for the Sports and Youth Affairs sector in the 2026-27 Budget, marking a ₹17 crore increase over the previous year’s revised estimates. The enhanced outlay reflects the government’s intent to position sports as a key driver of youth engagement, tourism diversification and economic activity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Presenting the budget in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said the government is adopting an integrated approach that connects sports with culture, fitness, and civic engagement. The focus, he said, is on modern infrastructure development and mass participation, ensuring sports reach communities across the Union Territory.

Omar Abdullah informed the House that two Centres of Excellence and 92 Khelo India Centres have already been established across J&K. These facilities form the backbone of grassroots sports development and talent identification, particularly in remote and underserved regions.

Organised sports participation has expanded significantly, with over 15.39 lakh students currently competing at different levels. Around 2,500 athletes have represented J&K at the National School Games, while overall youth engagement through sports activities crossed 29 lakh by December 2025. J&K athletes also secured 11 gold, 9 silver and 18 bronze medals at the 69th National School Games, alongside strong performances at international events, including the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

To improve monitoring and athlete progression, the government plans to build a digital athlete ecosystem. Registrations on the My BHARAT portal will be scaled up from 5.5 lakh to 20 lakh youth, featuring unique athlete IDs, performance dashboards, verified certificates and end-to-end tracking from grassroots to elite levels.

J&K has successfully hosted events such as the 5th Winter Sports Programme, the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival, and the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship, involving athletes from over a dozen countries. Upcoming events, including the 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Gulmarg and Srinagar, are expected to further strengthen the region’s national sporting profile.

The budget places strong emphasis on sports tourism as a growth engine. Infrastructure is being developed for winter sports, water sports and adventure tourism, with new water sports facilities planned at Wullar-Manasbal and Bani-Basohli. Flagship events like the Kashmir Marathon have emerged as major attractions, generating over ₹2.3 crore through sponsorships and registrations in 2025.