India, Oct. 28 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Union Cabinet approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme on 28 October 2026 with an outlay of Rs.1,856.67 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34. Dedicated Sports Goods Manufacturing Zones will bring manufacturers, suppliers, testing facilities and design centres together in one place. Support for anchor investment and turnover-linked production, with a combined outlay of Rs.1,130 crore, will draw new investment and raise production. A further Rs.105 crore will help manufacturers obtain and renew certification from International Sports Federations. Centres of Excellence, start-up support, skilling and export promotion complete a scheme that aims to make India a global hub for high-quality sports goods.
Manufacturing Infrastructure
Research and Innovation
Export Promotion
Sports Development
Khelo India Scheme
Khelo Bharat Niti 2025
Production Linked Incentive Schemes: Supporting Manufacturing Growth
The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes reward increases in production and sales across 14 sectors, encouraging investment and competitive manufacturing.
As of June 2026, these schemes had:
· Attracted Rs.2.6 lakh crore in investment.
· Generated Rs.23.8 lakh crore in production and sales.
· Supported over Rs.15.5 lakh crore in exports.
· Created 14.6 lakh jobs.
Introduction
India's sporting ambitions are creating opportunities that extend from playgrounds and training centres to manufacturing and enterprise. Initiatives such as Khelo India and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 are strengthening participation, talent development and sports infrastructure. A strong sports goods industry can support this vision by supplying quality equipment while creating opportunities for skills, employment and exports.
India's sports goods manufacturing base draws on established clusters such as Jalandhar (Punjab) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), skilled workers and a network of entrepreneurial MSMEs. Small and micro enterprises account for nearly 90% of production, making the sector an important avenue for local enterprise and employment. The global sports equipment market, valued at approximately US$140 billion in 2024, is projected to reach around US$283 billion by 2036, offering substantial opportunities for Indian manufacturers to expand their presence.
To build on these strengths, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme, with a total outlay of Rs.1,856.67 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34. Announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, the scheme brings together support for investment, technology, innovation, skills and market development to position India as a globally competitive hub for the design, development and manufacture of sports goods. The Budget Speech 2026-27 noted that "India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for high quality, affordable sports goods."
Key Interventions under the Scheme
The scheme provides support across the sports goods manufacturing value chain, from infrastructure and investment to research, skills, certification and market development. It has two parts: incentives that support manufacturing and interventions that build the wider ecosystem.
Strengthening India's Sports Goods Manufacturing Base
India's Sports Goods Industry Today
India's sports goods industry combines established manufacturing skills with a broad network of small enterprises. Its strengths extend beyond individual products to clusters of manufacturers, suppliers and household units serving domestic and international buyers.
Together, these strengths provide a foundation for expanding production, developing higher-value equipment and building a greater international presence. Technology, testing, certification and industry partnerships can help translate this potential into manufacturing growth.
Building on These Strengths through the New Scheme
The Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme brings together support across the manufacturing value chain. Its interventions address the following priorities:
Convergence with National Schemes and Initiatives
The scheme builds on existing national initiatives to connect manufacturing infrastructure with research, skills and export opportunities. It also supports the wider goal of strengthening India's sporting ecosystem.
Policy Alignment
Towards a Global Hub for Sports Goods
The scheme is expected to position India as a globally competitive hub for the design, development and manufacture of sports goods. By strengthening manufacturing, promoting innovation and widening access to global markets, it will create new opportunities for growth, employment and exports, and support India's aspiration to emerge as a leading sporting nation.
References
PIB Backgrounders
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId154856&ModuleId3®48&lang2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID2232079®3&lang1
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId159409&ModuleId3®48&lang1
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?id160146&NoteId160146&ModuleId3®3&lang1
NITI Aayog
https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2026-03/Realising-the-Export-Potential-of-India-Sports-Equipment-Manufacturing-Sector.pdf
Cabinet
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID2241785®48&lang2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID2329481®48&lang1
Ministry of Finance
https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/doc/budget_speech.pdf
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID2253019®48&lang2
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID2308465®48&lang2
Anusandhan National Research Foundation
https://www.anrf.gov.in/about-anrf
Click here to see pdf
PIB Research
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
