New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026-27 has proposed a dedicated national initiative for sports goods to promote manufacturing, research and innovation, signalling the government’s intent to position India as a global hub for high-quality, affordable sports equipment.
Announcing the move in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the programme would focus on strengthening equipment design and material sciences, and aligns with the Budget’s first “kartavya” of accelerating growth by improving productivity, competitiveness and resilience amid volatile global conditions.
Alongside the manufacturing push, the Budget unveiled a Khelo India Mission aimed at transforming the sports sector over the next decade, building on the existing Khelo India programme.
The Mission will create an integrated talent development pathway with training centres at foundational, intermediate and elite levels, while also focusing on the systematic development of coaches and support staff, integration of sports science and technology, expansion of competitions and leagues, and the creation of modern sports infrastructure for training and events.
The Finance Minister underlined that the sports sector offers multiple avenues for job creation, and the new Mission is intended to institutionalise talent nurturing and build a sustainable ecosystem that supports both grassroots participation and elite performance.
The sports goods initiative as a potential boost for clusters already active in equipment manufacturing, while the Khelo India Mission is expected to increase demand for infrastructure, coaching, sports science and allied services. Analysts said the success of the plan will hinge on execution, coordination with states and the private sector, and steady funding support to convert policy intent into scale and export competitiveness.