Sports budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: An increase in the budget outlay, a push for sports goods manufacturing, and a proposal to extend the Khelo India Mission for the next 10 years were the major takeaways for sports in the Union Budget 2026–27 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Sunday.

These major initiatives make it clear that the government is trying to change the country's sports ecosystem from funding events and athletic support to creating infrastructure, developing and nurturing talent, and being self-reliant when it comes to equipment and infrastructure. These moves are aimed at developing the Indian sports ecosystem capable of putting up its best foot forward at the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics, for which the country has bid.

With that in mind, the Finance Minister on Sunday proposed plans for a major upgrade in infrastructure and for the development of sports at the grassroots level.