CM Yogi Backs Khelo India Equipment Manufacturing Scheme
Synopsis
The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the Khelo India Sports Equipment Manufacturing Scheme on 28 October 2026. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath praised the move as a catalyst for domestic manufacturing, investment, exports, and employment in India's sports goods sector.
Key Takeaways
The Union Cabinet approved the Khelo India Khel Upkaran Vinirman Yojana on 28 October 2026 under PM Narendra Modi's chairmanship.
CM Yogi Adityanath publicly welcomed the scheme, highlighting its potential to drive investment, innovation, exports, and employment.
The scheme extends the Khelo India programme — launched in 2017-18 — from grassroots sports participation into domestic manufacturing.
It aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India agenda to cut import dependence in sports goods.
Key beneficiaries are expected to include sports goods manufacturers, MSME exporters , and youth athletes across India.
State-level implementation details, budget allocations, and cluster-level partnerships are the next milestones to track.
A Cabinet decision taken in New Delhi on Wednesday, 28 October 2026 is set to reshape how India makes, sells — and ultimately wins with — its own sports gear. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Union Cabinet's approval of the 'Khelo India Khel Upkaran Vinirman Yojana' (Khelo India Sports Equipment Manufacturing Scheme), calling it a commendable step that will simultaneously boost domestic production, attract investment, spur innovation, and open new doors for employment.
In his post on X, CM Yogi wrote: 'The approval granted today by the Union Cabinet, under the chairmanship of the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to the Khelo India Sports Equipment Manufacturing Scheme is praiseworthy. This decision will promote domestic sports goods manufacturing, encourage investment, innovation and exports, and open new avenues of employment. Heartfelt gratitude to you, Prime Minister Ji, for this decision that nurtures a khel sanskriti [sports culture].'
Khelo India's manufacturing leap — from grassroots to factory floor
The Khelo India programme has been a cornerstone of India's sports policy since its launch in 2017-18, originally focused on grassroots participation, infrastructure creation, and talent identification. The new scheme marks a meaningful expansion of that vision — moving upstream from nurturing athletes to nurturing the industry that equips them.
The approval slots directly into the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India framework, which seeks to reduce import dependence across strategic sectors. Sports goods manufacturing — historically concentrated in clusters like Jalandhar — stands to gain fresh policy tailwinds as the government signals intent to scale domestic capacity and push exports.
Jobs, MSMEs, and the export opportunity
The scheme is expected to benefit sports goods manufacturers, MSME exporters, and youth athletes in equal measure. By linking manufacturing incentives with a broader sports-culture push, the Cabinet's move frames sporting goods not just as consumer products but as an employment and export engine.
CM Yogi's endorsement carries weight beyond a routine congratulatory note — Uttar Pradesh, as India's most populous state with a significant MSME base, would be a primary beneficiary of any scheme that scales domestic sports equipment production and creates industrial employment. State-level implementation guidelines, budget allocations, and linkages with existing sports goods clusters will be the next critical milestones to watch.
India has long aspired to match its growing on-field ambitions with an equally robust off-field manufacturing ecosystem. With this Cabinet nod, that aspiration just got a policy backbone.
Point of View
Youth-friendly domain. By attaching manufacturing and export incentives to an already popular sports programme, the BJP government achieves a dual message: nationalist self-reliance and aspirational youth empowerment. CM Yogi's swift and effusive endorsement signals that Uttar Pradesh intends to position itself as a front-runner for scheme benefits, particularly given its large MSME workforce. The real test will be in implementation — whether existing sports goods clusters receive structured support or the scheme remains a policy headline without industrial traction.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khelo India Sports Equipment Manufacturing Scheme?
It is a scheme approved by India's Union Cabinet on 28 October 2026 to promote domestic manufacturing of sports goods, encourage investment, innovation and exports, and generate employment — an expansion of the broader Khelo India programme launched in 2017-18.
Why did CM Yogi Adityanath praise the Khelo India equipment scheme?
CM Yogi Adityanath called the Cabinet's approval 'commendable', saying it will nurture a 'sports culture' while creating jobs and boosting exports — outcomes directly relevant to Uttar Pradesh's large MSME base and youth population.
How does the new scheme relate to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat?
The scheme is designed to reduce India's dependence on imported sports equipment by scaling up domestic production capacity, directly aligning with the government's Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat manufacturing policy frameworks.
Who benefits from the Khelo India Sports Equipment Manufacturing Scheme?
The primary beneficiaries are expected to be domestic sports goods manufacturers, MSME exporters, and young athletes who will have better access to locally made equipment.
What is the Khelo India programme?
Khelo India is a flagship central government programme launched in 2017-18 to revive grassroots sports participation, build sports infrastructure, and identify and nurture talent across India's states.
