CM Majhi Backs ₹1,857 Cr Cabinet Scheme for Sports Goods
Synopsis
The Union Cabinet has approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme with a ₹1,856.67 crore outlay, aiming to reduce import dependence, boost MSME exporters, and position India as a global sports goods manufacturing hub.
Key Takeaways
The Union Cabinet approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme with an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore .
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi publicly backed the scheme on 28 October 2026 , crediting PM Narendra Modi 's leadership.
The scheme aims to drive innovation, strengthen domestic sports goods manufacturing, and create global export opportunities.
It builds on the Khelo India programme (2017) and the Make in India initiative (2014), completing a decade-long policy arc.
Key beneficiaries include MSMEs , sports goods exporters, and manufacturing clusters in tier-2 and tier-3 cities .
Rollout timelines, state partnerships, and actual export growth data will determine whether the ambition translates into results.
India's bid to manufacture the world's next badminton shuttle or cricket bat at home just got a serious financial tailwind. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, highlighted the Union Cabinet's approval of the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme, a new central initiative backed by an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore aimed at transforming India into a global sports manufacturing powerhouse.
What the Cabinet approved — and why the number matters
The scheme, cleared under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is designed to drive innovation in sports goods production, deepen domestic manufacturing capacity, and open global export markets for Indian manufacturers. CM Majhi described it as 'a boost to India's ambition of becoming a global sports manufacturing hub,' signalling the BJP's intent to plant this policy firmly in public imagination ahead of implementation.
The ₹1,856.67 crore outlay is not small change. For context, India's sports goods industry — concentrated heavily in clusters around Jalandhar, Meerut, and parts of Odisha — has long punched below its weight globally, squeezed by cheaper Chinese imports and thin domestic investment in technology upgrades. This scheme targets exactly that gap.
From Khelo India to 'Make in Sports' — the policy arc
The new scheme rides on a decade-long policy build-up. The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, started by targeting grassroots talent and sports infrastructure. The Make in India initiative, announced in 2014, opened the door to domestic manufacturing ambitions across sectors — toys, apparel, electronics. Sports goods, until now, remained a partial afterthought. This approval knits both threads together.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat logic is explicit here: reduce dependence on imported equipment, create employment in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and position Indian-made goods to compete in international markets. The scheme targets MSMEs and exporters who form the backbone of India's sports goods supply chain — a constituency that is both economically significant and politically visible.
Odisha's stake, and what to watch next
CM Majhi's vocal endorsement is also a signal of Odisha's aspirations within this national push. The state has growing ambitions in sports infrastructure — it has hosted major international hockey tournaments — and a scheme that funds manufacturing clusters could draw investment and jobs into the state's industrial corridors.
The real test, as with every Cabinet approval, is the rollout. Watchers will track how quickly state-level implementation partnerships are formalised, which manufacturing clusters receive priority allocation, and whether export growth data over the next two to three years backs up the headline ambition. Announcements are the opening whistle — the game starts now.
Point of View
The Centre is betting that export-oriented domestic production can substitute for the deep China dependence that has quietly undercut Indian manufacturers for years. CM Majhi's endorsement also reflects the BJP's strategy of aligning state leaders visibly with high-visibility Cabinet decisions, reinforcing the party's national brand at the state level. Whether the scheme delivers depends entirely on implementation architecture — specifically, whether cluster-level disbursals reach small manufacturers or get absorbed in administrative overhead.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
It is a new central government scheme approved by the Union Cabinet with an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore to promote domestic sports goods production, drive innovation, and create global export opportunities for Indian manufacturers.
How much money has been allocated to the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
The scheme carries an approved outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore.
Who approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
The Union Cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the scheme.
How does this scheme connect to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat?
The scheme extends the Make in India (2014) and Atmanirbhar Bharat frameworks into the sports goods sector, aiming to reduce dependence on imported equipment — largely from China — by building domestic MSME capacity and boosting exports.
What role does Odisha play in sports goods manufacturing?
Odisha has growing sports infrastructure ambitions, including hosting major international hockey events. The scheme could direct investment into Odisha's industrial corridors if state-level implementation partnerships are formalised.
