Budget 2026 Boosts India’s Sports Ecosystem

With a ₹4,479.88 crore (up from ₹3,346 crore RE 2025-26) allocation to the ministry of youth affairs and sports allocation, the new budget had brought about noteworthy initiatives to the field of sports as a significant pillar to the ambition of Viksit Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to virtual media to address a diverse crowd of varied sectors of ministries, academics, startups, policy experts, and sports experts. Titled as sabka saath sabka Vikas, the meet was a post budget webinar where our honourable PM addressed questions of the Centre's vision for multiple sectors including sports.

"In such a situation, we have to identify and groom young players today; only then will India's flag fly high in international competitions,” the PM said

The PM specifically emphasized the potential of the sporting ecosystem to transform our youth dividend into national power. He threw light upon the diverse dynamic applications of sports aids in multidisciplinary development, thereby highlighting the valuable contribution of training centers and stadiums to the overall economic growth of the state.

Our PM appreciated the success of the Khelo India initiative in building quality stadiums, training centers, and athletic fields across the country to strengthen our athletic roots. The initiative promotes CSR investments and corporate funding under the public-private partnership model to fund these projects, with 2300 crore already sanctioned for 280 sports facilities, thereby posing the significance of private funding businesses in government schemes via sports as a necessary and lucrative medium. Monetization of Indian sports assets under NMP, including stadiums like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, are examples of the movement's success.