Quick answer: The Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme is a central scheme worth ₹1,856.67 crore, running from FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34, to make India a global centre for producing sports equipment. The Union Cabinet approved it on 28 October 2026.
Why the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme is in the news
A Press Information Bureau backgrounder dated 28 October 2026 says the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the scheme that day. It was first announced in the Union Budget 2026-27. The scheme combines incentives for manufacturers with support for research, skills, certification and exports.
The government’s case rests on the size of the market. According to PIB, the global sports equipment market was worth about US$140 billion in 2024 and could reach about US$283 billion by 2036. India’s own equipment exports are only about US$275 million, a small share of global equipment exports of around US$52 billion.
Key facts about the scheme
| Component | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Sports Goods Manufacturing Zones (SGMZs) | Up to four integrated zones, each over 300 acres, built by converging with the BHAVYA scheme and NICDC industrial parks |
| Anchor Investment Support | 20% capital expenditure support for anchor investors who put in at least ₹100 crore inside an SGMZ |
| Turnover Linked Support | Incentives of up to 15% for manufacturers investing ₹10 crore or more |
| Combined outlay for the two incentives | ₹1,130 crore |
| International certification | ₹105 crore; covers 70% of first-time and 50% of renewal certification costs from International Sports Federations |
| Start-ups | Grants of up to ₹20 lakh for DPIIT-registered sports start-ups |
| Research | Centres of Excellence in leading institutions, with co-funding through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation |
| Clusters and MSMEs | Upgrading common facilities in existing clusters, with costs shared with States |
| Skills | Training run with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and industry |
| Global promotion | An India Sports Expo and a Brand India campaign, using the Export Promotion Mission |
Where India’s sports goods industry stands today
- Main clusters: Jalandhar (Punjab) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). Between them they have over 250 exporting units, more than 1,000 units serving the domestic market, nearly 20,000 household units and more than 4,000 micro enterprises.
- Other centres: Ludhiana makes bicycles; Delhi and Mumbai make sports accessories and apparel.
- Small firms dominate: small and micro enterprises produce nearly 90% of output.
- Strong niches: Indian brands and manufacturers hold about 75-80% of the global cricket bat market, and India has an estimated 30-35% of the cricket helmet market.
- Export markets: the UK, the US and Australia together take more than half of India’s sports equipment exports.
- Future potential: PIB estimates equipment exports could reach about US$8.1 billion by 2036 and add roughly 54 lakh jobs, counting both direct and indirect employment.
How it fits with other schemes
The scheme draws on infrastructure and programmes that already exist. BHAVYA (Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna) envisages 100 plug-and-play industrial parks, backed by ₹33,660 crore. The Export Promotion Mission (₹25,060 crore for 2025-26 to 2030-31) works through two arms, Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha. On the sports side, the scheme supports Khelo India, which was launched in 2017 by merging the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme and the National Sports Talent Search Scheme. It also supports Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, the national sports policy that treats sport as a driver of economic growth.
PIB expects demand from upcoming events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and India’s planned bid for the 2036 Olympics.
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- Scheme questions usually test the outlay, period and approving body: ₹1,856.67 crore, FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34, Union Cabinet.
- Questions on industrial clusters are common in economic geography. Learn the pairings: Jalandhar and Meerut for sports goods, Ludhiana for bicycles.
- Venues of upcoming sports events are favourite GK items, such as CWG 2030 in Ahmedabad.
Practice MCQs
Q1. The total outlay of the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme is:
(a) ₹1,130 crore (b) ₹1,856.67 crore (c) ₹3,176 crore (d) ₹25,060 crore
Answer: (b) — ₹1,856.67 crore for FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34.
Q2. Under the scheme, Anchor Investment Support offers what share of capital expenditure?
(a) 10% (b) 15% (c) 20% (d) 50%
Answer: (c) — 20% for anchor investors putting in at least ₹100 crore.
Q3. Which pair of cities is named by PIB as India’s established sports goods clusters?
(a) Ludhiana and Kanpur (b) Jalandhar and Meerut (c) Agra and Moradabad (d) Panipat and Surat
Answer: (b) — Jalandhar in Punjab and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
Q4. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in:
(a) New Delhi (b) Ahmedabad (c) Brisbane (d) Glasgow
Answer: (b) — Ahmedabad, as mentioned in the PIB backgrounder.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme approved?
The Union Cabinet approved it on 28 October 2026. It had been announced earlier in the Union Budget 2026-27.
What is the outlay and duration of the scheme?
The outlay is ₹1,856.67 crore, and the scheme runs from FY 2026-27 to FY 2033-34.
What are Sports Goods Manufacturing Zones?
They are large integrated zones where manufacturers, suppliers, testing labs and design centres are located together. The scheme allows up to four such zones, each over 300 acres.
How does the scheme help with international certification?
₹105 crore is set aside to pay 70% of first-time and 50% of renewal certification costs charged by International Sports Federations.
Can start-ups benefit from the scheme?
Yes. DPIIT-registered sports start-ups can get grants of up to ₹20 lakh to develop and commercialise new products.
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Sources: PIB Backgrounder: Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme (28 Oct 2026). Facts as reported up to 5 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): Gpkp / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
