Sports Budget 2025-26: Top highlights as Khelo India gets major hike, national federations' share also increase

Khelo India has emerged as the biggest beneficiary in the sports budget for fiscal year 2025-26.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth successive Union Budget on Saturday (February 1). While there were various reforms introduced be it in Income tax slabs or more, we look at what is in store for Ministry of Youth affairs and sports. Setting record straight, India’s sports budget has soared to ₹3,794.30 crore for 2025-26, marking a ₹351.98 crore increase from last year’s allocation of ₹3,442.32 crore.

The substantial hike, coming in a year without major international sporting events, signals government’s growing commitment to grassroots sports development.

Without any ado, let’s deep dive into major highlights from the sports Budget:

Top highlights of sports budget 2025-26

Khelo India program receives unprecedented funding

The government’s flagship grassroots sports initiative, Khelo India Games has emerged as the biggest beneficiary with a record allocation of ₹1,000 crore which is a substantial ₹200 crore increase from 2024-25’s ₹800 crore.

The triple digit boost will build on the the program’s expanding portfolio which has grown to include University Games, Winter Games, and Para Games since its inception in 2018 and the increased funding will only strengthen the network of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence across the country.

Enhanced support for National Sports Federations

National Sports Federations (NSFs) has also been on the positive side of the things in the budget which saw their allocation increased to ₹400 crore from ₹340 crore.

This 17.6% increase comes at a crucial time as India pursues its ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics, having already submitted a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee and the additional funding is expected to improve India’s international sports participation and athlete development programs.

Sports Authority of India gets infrastructure boost

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has also seen its allocation rise to ₹830 crore from ₹815 crore. The Nodal agency for National camp has been one of the growing successes and the enhanced budget will support its expanding role in maintaining sports infrastructure and managing the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for elite athletes.

Strengthened anti-doping measures

The government also underlined its commitment to clean sports by increasing funding to the anti-doping sector: The National Dope Testing Laboratory saw its budget jump to ₹23 crore from ₹18.70 crore, while the National Anti-Doping Agency’s budget jumped to ₹24.30 crore, compared to ₹20.30 crore.

Also Read: IOA plans to redefine scope of medal sports at National Games

Youth development and special initiatives

The National Service Scheme became a principal area of concern with a budget of ₹450 crore, a hike of ₹200 crore. NSS is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, which develops the personality and character of student youth through voluntary community service.

The budget also provided an enhanced sports package for Jammu and Kashmir with a requirement of ₹20 crore from ₹6 crore. The financing of Youth Exchange Programs for International Youth saw a great hike from ₹11.70 crores to ₹55 crores.

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