India’s sports ecosystem is in the midst of a significant transformation, powered by unprecedented levels of government investment, targeted policy reforms, and a growing ambition to be counted among the world’s leading sporting nations as we look at the road to 2036.
The Union Budget for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in 2024–25, followed by allocations for 2025–26, reflects not just incremental increases but a deliberate, long-term strategy to reshape how India develops athletes, builds infrastructure, and governs sport. This transformation is tied closely to India’s broader national vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India), where sports are no longer seen as peripheral but central to nation-building, social cohesion, and international standing. The nation’s expressed intent to host the 2036 Olympic Games is accelerating this process, setting deadlines for infrastructure development, athlete performance, and administrative reforms.
A Surge in Funding and Strategic Priorities
The numbers alone highlight the shift. The budgetary allocation for MYAS has grown consistently, from just ₹466 crore in 2004–05 to ₹3,794 crore proposed for FY 2025–26, a 130% increase over 2014–15 levels. Even in a non-Olympic cycle, the government has chosen to raise allocations, signaling that investment in sport is not tied to one-off events but embedded in long-term planning.
For FY 2024–25, the budget stood at ₹3,442 crore, with a revised estimate of ₹3,232 crore. The sharp jump for FY 2025–26 to nearly ₹3,800 crore—represents a 17% hike and underlines the adaptive nature of sports funding in India. Flagship programs like Khelo India and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) dominate these allocations, reflecting the twin focus on grassroots development and elite performance.
Key allocations include:
- Khelo India: ₹900 crore in 2024–25, rising to ₹1,000 crore in 2025–26.
- Sports Authority of India (SAI): ₹823 crore in 2024–25, slightly increased to ₹830 crore in 2025–26.
- National Sports Federations (NSFs): ₹340 crore in 2024–25, jumping to ₹400 crore in 2025–26.
- Anti-Doping Agencies (NADA and NDTL): Combined funding rising to nearly ₹47 crore.
- Incentives to Sportspersons: Reduced slightly, from ₹39 crore in 2024–25 to ₹37 crore in 2025–26, signaling a shift towards system-building rather than only rewarding past achievements.
The clear strategy is to strengthen the base of the sports pyramid infrastructure, federations, grassroots talent while ensuring elite athletes receive customized support through TOPS.
Khelo India The Talent Pipeline
Since its launch in 2016, Khelo India has been at the heart of grassroots sports development. The program funds infrastructure, identifies talent, and provides holistic support to young athletes.
Its impact is already visible:
- 323 sports infrastructure projects worth over ₹3,000 crore have been approved.
- 1,041 Khelo India Centres and 32 State Centres of Excellence have been established.
- More than 2,700 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) are receiving structured support, including equipment, coaching, medical care, and a monthly allowance.
- KIAs have set over 7,300 records (national and international combined).
- 124 KIAs contributed to India’s 42-medal haul at the 2022 Asian Games, while 28 KIAs were part of the Paris 2024 Olympic contingent.
In 2024, the government added the KIRTI (Khelo India Rural Talent Identification) initiative, targeting children aged 9–18 to broaden the grassroots pool and address challenges like drug abuse and screen dependency. With an ambitious plan to assess 20 lakh children in FY 2024–25, KIRTI reflects how Khelo India is evolving into a mass participation movement.
TOPS : The Elite Support System
If Khelo India is the supply line, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is the finishing school. Launched under the National Sports Development Fund, TOPS identifies potential Olympic and Paralympic medalists and gives them world-class support. Athletes receive customized training, foreign exposure, sports science integration, specialized equipment, and a monthly stipend of ₹50,000. Funding often exceeds standard federation support, ensuring India’s elite athletes are not disadvantaged compared to global rivals.
The results are undeniable. From PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik’s podiums in Rio 2016, to a historic 7 medals at Tokyo 2020, to India’s best-ever 19 medals at the Paralympics, TOPS has been central to the rise. At Paris 2024, too, a majority of India’s medal contenders were backed by the scheme. Crucially, TOPS funding has been augmented by corporate CSR contributions—NTPC in archery, REC in boxing and athletics, ONGC in general support making it a public-private partnership model that distributes responsibility for success.
Beyond direct athlete programs, the government is strengthening institutions. SAI’s allocation has steadily increased to manage training centres, TOPS, and facilities. Meanwhile, NSFs are being held accountable through performance-linked funding under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions (ACTC). Another forward-looking move is the recognition of esports as a legitimate part of India’s sporting landscape. Budget provisions and state initiatives, such as Bihar’s esports tender and championship, reflect an acknowledgment of digital sports as an economic and cultural force.
With mobile gaming growing exponentially, reductions in duties on smartphones and policy support for startups are directly boosting esports participation.
Governance, Ethics, and Athlete Welfare
India’s sports reforms extend beyond funding into governance and athlete well-being.
- Anti-doping efforts have seen budgets rise for NADA and NDTL, alongside India’s contributions to WADA. A new National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to bolster NADA’s independence.
- Athlete pensions and welfare funds have been expanded. Olympic and Paralympic medalists receive pensions up to ₹20,000 per month, while schemes like the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Fund provide ex-gratia support and medical coverage up to ₹10 lakh.
- The RESET Program, launched in 2024, is designed to help retired athletes transition into careers in coaching, administration, or mentorship through structured education and training.
- The proposed National Sports Governance Bill 2025 mandates athlete representation in federations, creates a National Sports Tribunal for disputes, and establishes a National Sports Election Panel. These reforms aim to dismantle decades of opaque functioning and make sports bodies transparent and accountable.
The Olympic Dream and Strategic Outlook
India’s formal bid for the 2036 Olympic Games is the single biggest driver of this transformation. Beyond national pride, the bid forces accelerated reforms in infrastructure, governance, and athlete development. Recent successful hosting of events—the IOC Session in Mumbai (2023), Chess Olympiad in Chennai (2022), MotoGP Bharat (2023), and BIMSTEC Aquatics Championship (2024)—has already showcased India’s capability. But the Olympics demand a scale of readiness far greater, and the next decade will see unprecedented investment in stadiums, athlete villages, and urban mobility infrastructure.
The combination of Khelo India’s pipeline, TOPS’ elite focus, and governance reforms forms the strategic base of this ambition. By 2036, India aims not only to host the Games but to enter as a serious medal contender across multiple disciplines.
Challenges on the Road Ahead
The trajectory is promising, but challenges remain:
- Funding consistency must be ensured across political cycles.
- Governance reforms will need strict enforcement to dismantle entrenched interests.
- Grassroots inclusion must extend to rural and marginalized communities, not just metros.
- Doping vigilance must scale up, as India has historically struggled with violations.
Addressing these issues will be key to turning financial investment into sustained sporting excellence.
India’s sporting story is moving into a new phase one defined by scale, intent, and vision. From grassroots initiatives under Khelo India, to elite athlete backing through TOPS, to reforms in governance and doping control, the architecture of a modern sports ecosystem is being built. What sets this phase apart is the deliberate linking of sports to national identity, economic growth, and international prestige. Hosting the 2036 Olympics is more than an ambition; it is a catalyst shaping policy decisions today.
If India maintains this momentum, balancing financial investment with accountability and inclusivity, the dream of becoming a global sporting powerhouse may no longer be distant. Instead, it could define the next decade of India’s rise on the world stage.
