NEW DELHI | NATIONAL POLICY | 28 OCTOBER 2026
The Union Cabinet approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme on 28 October with an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore for 2026–27 through 2033–34. The programme is intended to help Indian manufacturers make higher-quality equipment, build export capacity and support jobs in an industry that includes many smaller firms.
Manufacturing zones and certification
Government plans include dedicated sports goods manufacturing zones that bring producers, suppliers, testing facilities and design centres together. The official backgrounder describes incentives for anchor investment and turnover-linked production with a combined ₹1,130 crore allocation. It also sets aside ₹105 crore to help manufacturers obtain or renew certification from international sports federations.
The scheme adds support for centres of excellence, start-ups, skills and export promotion. Existing clusters such as Jalandhar and Meerut are relevant to implementation, though the Cabinet announcement does not itself select every site or award funding to a particular factory.
What success would look like
The policy tries to connect sporting demand with domestic production. Its effect will depend on whether smaller firms can access facilities and certification, whether investment produces viable equipment and whether buyers choose the resulting goods. A Cabinet allocation is a plan for spending over several years, not evidence of jobs or exports already created.
Future guidelines and awards should clarify the manufacturing zones, eligibility criteria and performance milestones. This report reflects the approval and official backgrounder published on 28 October 2026.
Source and image
Source: Press Information Bureau backgrounder, 28 October 2026.
Image source
A cricket bat being made by hand in Meerut. Archive manufacturing photograph; not a scheme-funded unit. Photo: Amit.kapil / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display crops may be applied.
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