Relevance: GS Paper 2 (Social Justice) & GS Paper 3 (Economy/Employment) | Source: PIB

1. A Big Shift in Indian Sports

Imagine a young child from a village dreaming of an Olympic medal. To make such dreams a reality, the Union Budget 2026-27 has launched the Khelo India Mission.

• What it is: Instead of just finding talent, it is a massive 10-year plan to completely upgrade how sports are played and managed in our country.
• Record Funding: To show its seriousness, the government gave the Sports Ministry its highest-ever budget of ₹4,479.88 crore.
• The Big Dream: The goal is to make India a Top 10 sporting nation by 2036, and a Top 5 nation by 2047.

2. Five Main Action Points

To achieve these global goals, the government is focusing on five simple steps:

• Catching Them Young: Creating a clear, step-by-step path to support a player from local school games all the way to the Olympics.
• Better Training Grounds: Building top-class training centres at local, state, and national levels.
• World-Class Teachers: Training a professional group of coaches, physiotherapists, and support staff.
• Sports Science: Using modern science to understand the human body and improve player stamina and technique.
• More Tournaments: Organizing regular, highly competitive leagues to build a strong sports culture in society.

3. “Make in India” for Sports (The Economy Angle)

Sports is not just about playing for the country; it is also a huge business that can create jobs for the common man.

• The Push: The Budget has kept aside a special fund of ₹500 crore just to promote sports equipment manufacturing inside India.
• The Benefits: This will help traditional factory hubs like Meerut and Jalandhar (known as Sports Goods Clusters).
• Instead of importing expensive footballs or hockey sticks, we will make them here, export them globally, and create thousands of jobs for our youth.

4. Power of the Youth (Yuva Shakti)

The 2026 Budget is deeply inspired by the ideas of young Indians.

• Direct Connect: Through platforms like the MY Bharat Budget Quest, the youth are participating in policy quizzes and sharing their vision directly with the Prime Minister.
• Women in Sports: Special schemes like Khelo India ASMITA are breaking old social barriers by focusing entirely on bringing more girls and women onto the sports field.

Important Terms Explained

1. Viksit Bharat @2047: The national dream to make India a fully developed, prosperous nation by the year 2047 (100 years of independence).
2. Khelo India Mission: A 10-year government roadmap to systematically find sports talent and build world-class sports facilities.
3. Sports Science: Using scientific methods—like data analysis, proper diet, and physical therapy—to safely push an athlete to their maximum potential.
4. Sports Goods Clusters: Specific cities or areas (like Meerut in UP) where a large number of factories naturally group together to make sports equipment.
5. Yuva Shakti: The “power of the youth,” recognizing that young people are the main drivers of the country’s economic and social growth.
6. Soft Power: Winning global respect and influence through sports, culture, and peace, rather than through military weapons.

UPSC Value Box

Why this matters for Governance & Economy:

• Human Capital: Playing sports naturally builds leadership, teamwork, and quick thinking. These are the exact skills needed for a modern, productive workforce.
• Soft Power Diplomacy: Every time the Indian flag goes up at the Olympics, it boosts India’s global image and diplomatic strength.

Analytical Challenge & Reform:

• The Challenge: Parents often discourage sports because there are very few well-paying career options outside of cricket.
• The Way Forward: We need to make sports a compulsory academic subject in schools (as suggested in the National Education Policy) and offer more government job quotas for athletes in diverse fields.

Summary

The Khelo India Mission 2026-27 is a game-changer. It transforms sports from a simple hobby into a serious tool for economic growth and social empowerment. By investing heavily in athletes, modern science, and local manufacturing, India is laying the foundation to become a global sporting and economic superpower by 2047.

One Line Wrap: Sports is the new engine for India’s soft power, job creation, and youth empowerment.

Q. “The Khelo India Mission in Budget 2026-27 envisions sports not merely as a recreational activity but as a multi-dimensional tool for national development.” Discuss. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

Model Hints

• Introduction: Mention the 10-year Khelo India Mission and the record ₹4,479.88 crore budget meant to transform the sports ecosystem.
• Body:
  • Economic Impact: Write about the ₹500 crore fund for domestic sports manufacturing and job creation.
  • Social Impact: Highlight women’s empowerment through the ASMITA scheme and youth engagement.
  • Global Positioning: Explain how sports acts as Soft Power to help India reach the Top 10 rank by 2036.
• Conclusion: Conclude that mixing sports science with solid infrastructure will speed up India’s journey toward a healthy Viksit Bharat @2047.