Union Budget 2026: Targets Sports Manufacturing and Ecosystem Development

Union Budget 2026-27 has placed sports firmly within India’s growth and employment strategy. While presenting the Budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a dedicated initiative for sports goods manufacturing and innovation. At the same time, the government proposed launching the Khelo India Mission to systematically nurture sporting talent over the next decade. Together, these steps aim to strengthen India’s sports ecosystem from manufacturing and research to talent development and infrastructure.

Dedicated Sports Goods Initiative

• The Budget proposes a focused initiative to promote manufacturing, research, and innovation in sports goods.
• The aim is to support innovation in equipment design and material sciences, enabling India to produce high-quality and affordable sports equipment.
• This initiative is aligned with the first kartavya of the Budget accelerating and sustaining economic growth by enhancing productivity and competitiveness.
• By strengthening domestic capabilities, India aims to position itself as a global hub for sports goods manufacturing, catering to both domestic and international markets.

Why Sports Goods Matter

• The sports goods industry has strong potential for employment generation, exports, and MSME growth.
• India already has traditional clusters producing sports equipment, but the Budget seeks to move beyond low-cost manufacturing to innovation-driven, high-value production.
• By investing in research, new materials, and better design, Indian manufacturers can compete globally.
• This also supports broader manufacturing goals under India’s push for self-reliance and global competitiveness.

Khelo India Mission: A Long-Term Vision for Sports

• In addition to manufacturing, the Budget announced the launch of the Khelo India Mission.
• This Mission will take forward the talent-nurturing process initiated under the Khelo India programme and aims to transform the sports sector over the next decade.
• The proposal aligns with the second kartavya of the Budget fulfilling aspirations of the people and building their capacity, making citizens active partners in India’s development journey.

Key Pillars of the Khelo India Mission

• The Khelo India Mission will focus on creating a structured and integrated sports ecosystem.
• It will establish a clear talent development pathway, supported by training centres at foundational, intermediate, and elite levels.
• The Mission will also prioritise the systematic development of coaches and support staff, ensuring that athletes receive professional guidance throughout their careers.
• A strong emphasis will be placed on sports science and technology, helping athletes improve performance and reduce injuries.

Question

Q. The sports goods initiative announced in Budget 2026 focuses mainly on:

A. Importing sports equipment
B. Sports tourism promotion
C. Manufacturing, research and innovation
D. Stadium ticket subsidies