Cabinet Approves ₹1,500 Crore Infrastructure Boost for Khelo India

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned a ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost for the Khelo India scheme to decentralise sports training and empower rural athletes. This additional allocation will be utilised to construct 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums and upgrade existing synthetic athletic tracks across various states. By expanding grassroots sports infrastructure, the policy aims to provide world-class facilities at the local level and strengthen India's preparation for upcoming international sporting events.

What Happened

The Union Cabinet has sanctioned an additional ₹1,500 crore allocation to expand and upgrade infrastructure under the Khelo India scheme. This major policy decision aims to strengthen India's preparation for upcoming international sporting events. The funds are strictly earmarked for constructing 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums and upgrading existing synthetic athletic tracks. The primary focus is to decentralise sports training and bring world-class athletic facilities directly to rural athletes.

When & Where

The cabinet approval is a national-level policy decision impacting multiple states across India. While the exact locations for the 50 new indoor stadiums have not been formally released, they will be distributed across various states to ensure regional balance. The upgraded synthetic athletic tracks will also target rural and semi-urban districts rather than confining modern sports infrastructure to metropolitan cities.

Who Is Involved

Union Cabinet: Approved the ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The nodal ministry responsible for implementing the Khelo India scheme.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): Expected to oversee the maintenance and utilisation of the new stadiums and tracks.
State Governments: Since sports is a State subject, local governments will be key partners in land allocation and facility management.
Rural Athletes: The primary beneficiaries of the new decentralised training facilities.

How It Works

Fund Allocation: The ₹1,500 crore budget will be disbursed through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to relevant state and district authorities.
Site Identification: States will identify suitable land in rural or semi-urban areas for the construction of the 50 multi-purpose indoor stadiums.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Existing, outdated synthetic tracks at local sports complexes will be evaluated and upgraded to meet international standards.
Decentralised Training: Once operational, these facilities will allow rural athletes to train locally with high-quality equipment, eliminating the need to relocate to tier-1 cities.

Why It Matters

Constitutional Significance: Although 'Sports' is a State subject (Entry 33), this central intervention ensures uniform infrastructure development across states, bridging the rural-urban divide.
Social Implications: By decentralising facilities, the scheme democratises access to sports, giving talented youth in rural areas a fair chance to compete nationally and internationally.
Policy Importance: It aligns with the government's long-term vision of making India a global sporting powerhouse by the 2036 Olympics, shifting focus from mere participation to elite athlete development.

Historical Background

📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]

2017-18: The Khelo India scheme was officially launched by revamping previous sports development programmes to build a strong framework for all sports played in the country.
2018: The first edition of the Khelo India School Games was held, which later evolved into the Khelo India Youth Games in 2019 to identify grassroots talent.
2021: The financial outlay for the Khelo India scheme was significantly increased to ₹3,790.50 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to enhance sports infrastructure and talent identification.

Previous Related Events

📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]

February 2026: The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the "Khelo India Mission," shifting towards a long-term, mission-mode approach with a ₹924.35 crore allocation for the year.
August 2025: The government introduced the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 to integrate sports with the National Education Policy and promote women's empowerment in athletics.
February 2024: The government announced the addition of 341 sports infrastructure facilities and over 1,000 Khelo India Centres to bolster youth potential across the country.

Static GK Connection

Seventh Schedule of the Constitution: 'Sports, entertainments and amusements' fall under Entry 33 of the State List (List II). This means state governments have the primary responsibility for sports development, but the Centre intervenes through funding and national schemes.
Demographic Dividend: India has the world's largest youth demographic, with 65% of its population under the age of 35. Investing in sports infrastructure is a key mechanism to harness this demographic dividend for national development.

India & World Comparison

India has historically lagged in Olympic medal tallies relative to its population size, largely due to a lack of grassroots infrastructure compared to sporting powerhouses like the USA, China, and Australia. By investing heavily in decentralised multi-purpose stadiums and the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme, India is adopting the "catch-them-young" model used successfully by China. India is currently preparing a strategic roadmap to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

Future Impact

Olympic Preparedness: The new facilities will serve as foundational and intermediate training hubs for athletes targeting the 2032 and 2036 Olympic Games.
Economic Growth: The construction of 50 stadiums and track upgrades will generate local employment and boost the domestic sports goods manufacturing sector.
Talent Pipeline: A stronger grassroots network will feed higher-quality athletes into the Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE), improving India's overall competitiveness at international sporting events.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Union Cabinet approved ₹1,500 crore additional funding for Khelo India.
Earmarked for 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums across various states.
Includes upgrading existing synthetic athletic tracks to international standards.
Primary goal: Decentralise sports training and support rural athletes.
Khelo India scheme was originally launched in 2017-18 to revive sports culture.
Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
'Sports' is classified under Entry 33 of the State List (Seventh Schedule).
Union Budget 2026-27 launched the "Khelo India Mission".
Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹924.35 crore specifically for Khelo India.
Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 aims to integrate sports with the National Education Policy.
India targets becoming a top 10 sporting nation by 2036.
The investment helps harness India's demographic dividend (65% under 35 years).
Addresses the historical urban bias in Indian sports infrastructure.
Construction of 50 stadiums will generate local employment and allied economic growth.
Will strengthen grassroots pipelines for the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Entry 33 of the State List (Sports in India)

Definition: The constitutional provision that places the subject of 'sports, entertainments and amusements' under the legislative jurisdiction of state governments.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Entry 33 of List II (State List) in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Economic Principle: Decentralised public good provision, where local governments are deemed better equipped to handle local cultural and recreational needs.
How it connects to this event: Despite sports being a State subject, the Union Cabinet is deploying ₹1,500 crore through a Central Sector Scheme (Khelo India) to ensure uniform infrastructure development.
Origin & History: Adopted from the Government of India Act, 1935, and retained in the 1950 Constitution to ensure states had autonomy over local recreation.
Key milestone 1: The launch of the Khelo India scheme in 2017-18 marked a massive shift where the Centre took a highly proactive funding role in a State subject.
Key milestone 2: The introduction of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 pushed for deeper Centre-State integration to prepare for the 2036 Olympics.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Khelo India Programme, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
Nodal Ministry / Body: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (at the Centre), and respective State Sports Departments.
India-specific relevance: Ensures that while states manage local clubs and associations, the Centre can step in to fund capital-intensive infrastructure like multi-purpose stadiums.
Global comparison: In the US, sports are highly decentralised and privatised via schools and colleges; in China, sports are heavily centralised by the state. India follows a hybrid cooperative federalism model.
Data point: The Union Budget 2026-27 increased the overall Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports allocation by ₹1,133 crore, highlighting the Centre's growing financial footprint.
Common exam angle: UPSC frequently asks whether sports is in the Union, State, or Concurrent list, and how Central schemes operate within State domains.
Easy memory hook: "Sports is a State game, but Khelo India brings the Central fame."

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Under the recent Union Cabinet approval, how much additional funding was sanctioned to boost Khelo India infrastructure? [Easy]

A) ₹500 crore

B) ₹1,000 crore

C) ₹1,500 crore

D) ₹2,000 crore

Answer: C

Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore allocation specifically for expanding the Khelo India initiative.

Q2. The ₹1,500 crore Khelo India infrastructure boost primarily targets the construction of how many new multi-purpose indoor stadiums? [Easy]

A) 25

B) 50

C) 75

D) 100

Answer: B

Explanation: The funds will be deployed to construct exactly 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums across various states.

Q3. Under which schedule of the Indian Constitution is 'Sports' classified as a State subject? [Moderate]

A) Fifth Schedule

B) Sixth Schedule

C) Seventh Schedule

D) Eighth Schedule

Answer: C

Explanation: 'Sports, entertainments and amusements' fall under Entry 33 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule.

Q4. What is the primary objective of the newly announced ₹1,500 crore Khelo India boost? [Moderate]

A) To sponsor athletes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

B) To decentralise sports training and provide world-class facilities to rural athletes

C) To build a new National Sports University in Delhi

D) To completely privatise sports management in India

Answer: B

Explanation: The policy specifically aims to decentralise sports training and bring modern facilities like synthetic tracks to rural athletes.

Q5. The Khelo India scheme was originally launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in which financial year? [Moderate]

A) 2014-15

B) 2015-16

C) 2017-18

D) 2020-21

Answer: C

Explanation: The Khelo India programme was officially launched in 2017-18 to revive sports culture at the grassroots level.

Q6. Which of the following best describes the constitutional nature of the Khelo India Programme? [Tricky]

A) A State Sector Scheme entirely funded by state governments

B) A Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government intervening in a State subject

C) A Centrally Sponsored Scheme where funding is equally split 50:50 between the Centre and States

D) A public-private partnership mandated by the Concurrent List

Answer: B

Explanation: Khelo India is a Central Sector Scheme funded by the Union Government, despite Sports being a State subject (Entry 33), demonstrating cooperative federalism.

Q7. Which recent government initiative aims to integrate sports with the National Education Policy and position India as a global sporting powerhouse by 2036? [Tricky]

A) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)

B) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)

C) Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

D) Fit India Movement

Answer: C

Explanation: The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 is the landmark policy designed to align sports with the NEP and target excellence for the 2036 Olympics.

Q8. According to the Union Budget 2026-27, which new mission was launched to transform the sports sector over the next decade? [Tricky]

A) Olympic Gold Mission

B) Khelo India Mission

C) Rural Sports Mission

D) Yuva Krida Mission

Answer: B

Explanation: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of the "Khelo India Mission" in the 2026-27 Budget to systematically develop sports talent.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

With reference to the Khelo India scheme, which ministry is responsible for its implementation?

A) Ministry of Education

B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

C) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

D) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Answer: C

Explanation: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is the nodal ministry for the Khelo India programme.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements regarding sports administration in India:

1. 'Sports' is explicitly listed as a subject in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule.
2. The Khelo India programme aims to decentralise sports training by establishing grassroots infrastructure.
3. The Union Cabinet recently approved ₹1,500 crore to construct 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because 'Sports' is a State subject (Entry 33 of List II). Statements 2 and 3 are correct as per recent policy announcements.

PYQ 3:

Match the following initiatives with their primary objectives:

Initiative:

1. Khelo India Programme
2. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
3. KIRTI

Objective:

X. Elite athlete sponsorship for international medals
Y. Grassroots infrastructure and mass participation
Z. Merit-based talent scouting for children aged 9-18

A) 1-Y, 2-X, 3-Z

B) 1-X, 2-Y, 3-Z

C) 1-Y, 2-Z, 3-X

D) 1-Z, 2-X, 3-Y

Answer: A

Explanation: Khelo India (Y) focuses on grassroots development; TOPS (X) funds elite Olympic hopefuls; and KIRTI (Z) scouts young talent at the school level.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): Analyze the significance of the ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost for the Khelo India scheme in addressing the rural-urban divide in Indian sports.

The ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost for the Khelo India scheme represents a critical shift toward equitable sports development in India. Historically, modern athletic infrastructure has been concentrated in metropolitan cities, forcing talented rural athletes to relocate at great personal expense. This recent cabinet approval specifically addresses this rural-urban divide by mandating the construction of 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums and the upgrading of synthetic athletic tracks in decentralised locations.

From a social perspective, bringing world-class facilities to the grassroots democratises access to sports, ensuring that merit, rather than geography, dictates athletic success. Economically, constructing these stadiums will generate local employment and stimulate regional sports ecosystems. By building high-quality infrastructure at the local level, the government strengthens the foundational talent pipeline required for the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme. Going forward, states must ensure transparent land allocation and adequate maintenance budgets so these facilities yield long-term Olympic champions.

Question 2 (250 words): "Despite Sports being a State subject, the Union Government's proactive funding through schemes like Khelo India is essential for India's Olympic aspirations." Discuss this statement in light of recent sports infrastructure investments and constitutional provisions.

Under Entry 33 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, 'Sports, entertainments and amusements' are the primary responsibility of state governments. However, state-level sports budgets are often inadequate and inconsistently distributed, leading to fragmented infrastructure development. In this context, the Union Government's proactive intervention through Central Sector Schemes like Khelo India is not a violation of federalism, but a necessary act of cooperative federalism to fulfil national aspirations.

The recent Union Cabinet approval of ₹1,500 crore to construct 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums and upgrade synthetic tracks exemplifies this dynamic. By decentralising world-class facilities to rural athletes, the Centre is bypassing the historical urban bias of state sports associations. This intervention is crucial for India’s long-term goal of hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics and ranking among the top 10 sporting nations. The newly launched Khelo India Mission, backed by a ₹924.35 crore allocation in Budget 2026-27, further institutionalises this central funding mechanism.

Internationally, sporting powerhouses like China rely on heavily centralised, well-funded grassroots infrastructure to consistently produce Olympic medallists. India’s hybrid approach—where the Centre funds capital-intensive stadiums and tracks while states manage daily operations and local talent scouting—optimises resources. To maximize the impact of this ₹1,500 crore investment, the Union and State governments must establish joint monitoring committees. Ensuring that these 50 stadiums are integrated with the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 and the National Education Policy will successfully translate grassroots participation into elite Olympic podium finishes.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students often confuse the constitutional status of sports, assuming it is in the Concurrent List because both Centre and States fund it. The correct fact is that 'Sports' is strictly a State subject (Entry 33 of the State List), and the Centre intervenes via Central Sector Schemes.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that Khelo India only provides scholarships or conducts the Youth Games. The reality is that Khelo India is heavily focused on capital expenditure, such as the ₹1,500 crore allocation for building 50 physical indoor stadiums and upgrading synthetic tracks.
Trap 3: Many students miss the distinction between Khelo India and TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) when answering questions on this topic. Always remember that Khelo India is for grassroots mass participation and infrastructure, whereas TOPS is strictly for funding elite, established athletes likely to win Olympic medals.

🧭 Exam Tip

For Prelims, examiners heavily favour the constitutional angle (Seventh Schedule, State List) and exact numbers (₹1,500 crore, 50 stadiums) regarding sports schemes. For Mains (GS Paper 2 - Governance), expect analytical questions on how Central schemes like Khelo India bridge the rural-urban divide or demonstrate cooperative federalism. In Interviews, candidates may be asked to critique India's readiness to host the 2036 Olympics based on current grassroots infrastructure. High-probability prediction: A statement-based Prelims question combining the launch year of Khelo India (2017-18), the exact budget boost (₹1,500 crore), and its constitutional status (State List).

Cabinet Approves ₹1,500 Crore Infrastructure Boost for Khelo India

What Happened

When & Where

Who Is Involved

Union Cabinet: Approved the ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The nodal ministry responsible for implementing the Khelo India scheme.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): Expected to oversee the maintenance and utilisation of the new stadiums and tracks.
State Governments: Since sports is a State subject, local governments will be key partners in land allocation and facility management.
Rural Athletes: The primary beneficiaries of the new decentralised training facilities.

How It Works

Fund Allocation: The ₹1,500 crore budget will be disbursed through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to relevant state and district authorities.
Site Identification: States will identify suitable land in rural or semi-urban areas for the construction of the 50 multi-purpose indoor stadiums.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Existing, outdated synthetic tracks at local sports complexes will be evaluated and upgraded to meet international standards.
Decentralised Training: Once operational, these facilities will allow rural athletes to train locally with high-quality equipment, eliminating the need to relocate to tier-1 cities.

Why It Matters

Constitutional Significance: Although 'Sports' is a State subject (Entry 33), this central intervention ensures uniform infrastructure development across states, bridging the rural-urban divide.
Social Implications: By decentralising facilities, the scheme democratises access to sports, giving talented youth in rural areas a fair chance to compete nationally and internationally.
Policy Importance: It aligns with the government's long-term vision of making India a global sporting powerhouse by the 2036 Olympics, shifting focus from mere participation to elite athlete development.

Historical Background

📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]

2017-18: The Khelo India scheme was officially launched by revamping previous sports development programmes to build a strong framework for all sports played in the country.
2018: The first edition of the Khelo India School Games was held, which later evolved into the Khelo India Youth Games in 2019 to identify grassroots talent.
2021: The financial outlay for the Khelo India scheme was significantly increased to ₹3,790.50 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to enhance sports infrastructure and talent identification.

Previous Related Events

📌 [BACKGROUND — verify independently]

February 2026: The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the "Khelo India Mission," shifting towards a long-term, mission-mode approach with a ₹924.35 crore allocation for the year.
August 2025: The government introduced the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 to integrate sports with the National Education Policy and promote women's empowerment in athletics.
February 2024: The government announced the addition of 341 sports infrastructure facilities and over 1,000 Khelo India Centres to bolster youth potential across the country.

Static GK Connection

Seventh Schedule of the Constitution: 'Sports, entertainments and amusements' fall under Entry 33 of the State List (List II). This means state governments have the primary responsibility for sports development, but the Centre intervenes through funding and national schemes.
Demographic Dividend: India has the world's largest youth demographic, with 65% of its population under the age of 35. Investing in sports infrastructure is a key mechanism to harness this demographic dividend for national development.

India & World Comparison

Future Impact

Olympic Preparedness: The new facilities will serve as foundational and intermediate training hubs for athletes targeting the 2032 and 2036 Olympic Games.
Economic Growth: The construction of 50 stadiums and track upgrades will generate local employment and boost the domestic sports goods manufacturing sector.
Talent Pipeline: A stronger grassroots network will feed higher-quality athletes into the Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE), improving India's overall competitiveness at international sporting events.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

Union Cabinet approved ₹1,500 crore additional funding for Khelo India.
Earmarked for 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums across various states.
Includes upgrading existing synthetic athletic tracks to international standards.
Primary goal: Decentralise sports training and support rural athletes.
Khelo India scheme was originally launched in 2017-18 to revive sports culture.
Implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
'Sports' is classified under Entry 33 of the State List (Seventh Schedule).
Union Budget 2026-27 launched the "Khelo India Mission".
Budget 2026-27 allocated ₹924.35 crore specifically for Khelo India.
Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 aims to integrate sports with the National Education Policy.
India targets becoming a top 10 sporting nation by 2036.
The investment helps harness India's demographic dividend (65% under 35 years).
Addresses the historical urban bias in Indian sports infrastructure.
Construction of 50 stadiums will generate local employment and allied economic growth.
Will strengthen grassroots pipelines for the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Entry 33 of the State List (Sports in India)

Definition: The constitutional provision that places the subject of 'sports, entertainments and amusements' under the legislative jurisdiction of state governments.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Entry 33 of List II (State List) in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Economic Principle: Decentralised public good provision, where local governments are deemed better equipped to handle local cultural and recreational needs.
How it connects to this event: Despite sports being a State subject, the Union Cabinet is deploying ₹1,500 crore through a Central Sector Scheme (Khelo India) to ensure uniform infrastructure development.
Origin & History: Adopted from the Government of India Act, 1935, and retained in the 1950 Constitution to ensure states had autonomy over local recreation.
Key milestone 1: The launch of the Khelo India scheme in 2017-18 marked a massive shift where the Centre took a highly proactive funding role in a State subject.
Key milestone 2: The introduction of Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 pushed for deeper Centre-State integration to prepare for the 2036 Olympics.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Khelo India Programme, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
Nodal Ministry / Body: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (at the Centre), and respective State Sports Departments.
India-specific relevance: Ensures that while states manage local clubs and associations, the Centre can step in to fund capital-intensive infrastructure like multi-purpose stadiums.
Global comparison: In the US, sports are highly decentralised and privatised via schools and colleges; in China, sports are heavily centralised by the state. India follows a hybrid cooperative federalism model.
Data point: The Union Budget 2026-27 increased the overall Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports allocation by ₹1,133 crore, highlighting the Centre's growing financial footprint.
Common exam angle: UPSC frequently asks whether sports is in the Union, State, or Concurrent list, and how Central schemes operate within State domains.
Easy memory hook: "Sports is a State game, but Khelo India brings the Central fame."

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. Under the recent Union Cabinet approval, how much additional funding was sanctioned to boost Khelo India infrastructure? [Easy]

A) ₹500 crore

B) ₹1,000 crore

C) ₹1,500 crore

D) ₹2,000 crore

Answer: C

Explanation: The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore allocation specifically for expanding the Khelo India initiative.

Q2. The ₹1,500 crore Khelo India infrastructure boost primarily targets the construction of how many new multi-purpose indoor stadiums? [Easy]

A) 25

B) 50

C) 75

D) 100

Answer: B

Explanation: The funds will be deployed to construct exactly 50 new multi-purpose indoor stadiums across various states.

Q3. Under which schedule of the Indian Constitution is 'Sports' classified as a State subject? [Moderate]

A) Fifth Schedule

B) Sixth Schedule

C) Seventh Schedule

D) Eighth Schedule

Answer: C

Explanation: 'Sports, entertainments and amusements' fall under Entry 33 of the State List in the Seventh Schedule.

Q4. What is the primary objective of the newly announced ₹1,500 crore Khelo India boost? [Moderate]

A) To sponsor athletes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

B) To decentralise sports training and provide world-class facilities to rural athletes

C) To build a new National Sports University in Delhi

D) To completely privatise sports management in India

Answer: B

Explanation: The policy specifically aims to decentralise sports training and bring modern facilities like synthetic tracks to rural athletes.

Q5. The Khelo India scheme was originally launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in which financial year? [Moderate]

A) 2014-15

B) 2015-16

C) 2017-18

D) 2020-21

Answer: C

Explanation: The Khelo India programme was officially launched in 2017-18 to revive sports culture at the grassroots level.

Q6. Which of the following best describes the constitutional nature of the Khelo India Programme? [Tricky]

A) A State Sector Scheme entirely funded by state governments

B) A Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Union Government intervening in a State subject

C) A Centrally Sponsored Scheme where funding is equally split 50:50 between the Centre and States

D) A public-private partnership mandated by the Concurrent List

Answer: B

Explanation: Khelo India is a Central Sector Scheme funded by the Union Government, despite Sports being a State subject (Entry 33), demonstrating cooperative federalism.

Q7. Which recent government initiative aims to integrate sports with the National Education Policy and position India as a global sporting powerhouse by 2036? [Tricky]

A) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)

B) National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)

C) Khelo Bharat Niti 2025

D) Fit India Movement

Answer: C

Explanation: The Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 is the landmark policy designed to align sports with the NEP and target excellence for the 2036 Olympics.

Q8. According to the Union Budget 2026-27, which new mission was launched to transform the sports sector over the next decade? [Tricky]

A) Olympic Gold Mission

B) Khelo India Mission

C) Rural Sports Mission

D) Yuva Krida Mission

Answer: B

Explanation: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the launch of the "Khelo India Mission" in the 2026-27 Budget to systematically develop sports talent.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

With reference to the Khelo India scheme, which ministry is responsible for its implementation?

A) Ministry of Education

B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

C) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

D) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Answer: C

Explanation: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is the nodal ministry for the Khelo India programme.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements regarding sports administration in India:

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect because 'Sports' is a State subject (Entry 33 of List II). Statements 2 and 3 are correct as per recent policy announcements.

PYQ 3:

Match the following initiatives with their primary objectives:

Initiative:

1. Khelo India Programme
2. Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
3. KIRTI

Objective:

X. Elite athlete sponsorship for international medals
Y. Grassroots infrastructure and mass participation
Z. Merit-based talent scouting for children aged 9-18

A) 1-Y, 2-X, 3-Z

B) 1-X, 2-Y, 3-Z

C) 1-Y, 2-Z, 3-X

D) 1-Z, 2-X, 3-Y

Answer: A

Explanation: Khelo India (Y) focuses on grassroots development; TOPS (X) funds elite Olympic hopefuls; and KIRTI (Z) scouts young talent at the school level.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): Analyze the significance of the ₹1,500 crore infrastructure boost for the Khelo India scheme in addressing the rural-urban divide in Indian sports.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students often confuse the constitutional status of sports, assuming it is in the Concurrent List because both Centre and States fund it. The correct fact is that 'Sports' is strictly a State subject (Entry 33 of the State List), and the Centre intervenes via Central Sector Schemes.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that Khelo India only provides scholarships or conducts the Youth Games. The reality is that Khelo India is heavily focused on capital expenditure, such as the ₹1,500 crore allocation for building 50 physical indoor stadiums and upgrading synthetic tracks.
Trap 3: Many students miss the distinction between Khelo India and TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) when answering questions on this topic. Always remember that Khelo India is for grassroots mass participation and infrastructure, whereas TOPS is strictly for funding elite, established athletes likely to win Olympic medals.