Kishan Reddy: Cabinet clears ₹1,857 cr sports goods scheme
Synopsis
The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the ₹1,856.67 crore Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme on October 29, 2026, aiming to boost domestic production, cut imports, and strengthen India's position in global sports equipment markets.
Key Takeaways
The Union Cabinet approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme on October 29, 2026 .
Total outlay is ₹1,856.67 crore , aimed at domestic manufacturing, innovation, and export growth.
The scheme merges the Khelo India (2017) and Make in India (2014) policy tracks under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework.
Key manufacturing clusters in Meerut and Jalandhar are expected to be primary beneficiaries.
Goals include import substitution in sports goods and expanding India's share of global sports equipment exports.
Fund disbursement timelines and unit selection criteria are the critical next steps to watch.
A ₹1,856.67 crore bet on bats, balls, and bicycles — the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme on Thursday, October 29, 2026, fusing the country's sports development agenda with its industrial self-reliance push in a single, big-ticket decision.
What the ₹1,856.67 crore scheme actually does
Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy — also BJP's Telangana state president — announced the approval on X, framing it under the twin banners: 'Powering Make in India, Strengthening Play in India.' The scheme is designed to boost domestic manufacturing of sports goods, drive product innovation, and widen India's footprint in global sports equipment markets.
The move connects two of the Modi government's flagship programmes. The Khelo India scheme, launched in 2017, has focused on grassroots sports infrastructure and talent identification. Make in India, which began in 2014, has pushed to position the country as a competitive global manufacturing destination. This approval is the clearest attempt yet to make those two tracks converge.
Meerut, Jalandhar, and the geography of Indian sports goods
India already has established sports goods manufacturing clusters — most prominently in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) and Jalandhar (Punjab), which together supply a significant share of globally traded sports equipment. The scheme is expected to direct investment and support toward units in these hubs, improving quality standards, production capacity, and export competitiveness.
The strategic logic is straightforward: India is a large consumer of sports goods, a significant chunk of which is currently imported. A well-funded manufacturing push could simultaneously reduce that import bill and convert existing clusters into serious export engines under the Atmanirbhar Bharat framework.
The cabinet hashtag hiding a pointed message
Reddy tagged the announcement #KhelBhiNirmanBhi — 'Play as well as Build' — a phrase that encapsulates the dual intent. The government is not merely funding stadiums or training academies; it is trying to make India the country that manufactures the equipment the world plays with. That is a materially different ambition, and the ₹1,856.67 crore allocation signals it is now backed by real money, not just rhetoric.
What to watch next: fund disbursement timelines, which manufacturing units qualify for support, and whether the scheme produces measurable movement in sports goods export figures and import substitution over the next two to three years.
India has long punched below its weight in the global sports goods trade — this scheme is the government's wager that the next cricket bat sold in Melbourne or football shipped to Lagos could say 'Made in India' and mean it.
Point of View
Not just a social one. By anchoring a ₹1,856.67 crore outlay at the intersection of Khelo India and Make in India, the Modi government is attempting to convert grassroots sports momentum into export-oriented manufacturing muscle, a combination few governments have tried at this scale. The Meerut-Jalandhar belt gives India a ready industrial base to build on, but the real test will be whether disbursements reach small and mid-sized manufacturers or consolidate around larger players. If executed well, this scheme could quietly reposition India in the global sporting goods supply chain — a market dominated by China — within the decade.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
It is a ₹1,856.67 crore scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on October 29, 2026 , to boost domestic manufacturing of sports goods, drive innovation, and strengthen India's presence in global sports equipment markets.
Who approved the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
The Union Cabinet , chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , approved the scheme on October 29, 2026 .
How much funding has been allocated under the sports goods manufacturing scheme?
The scheme carries an outlay of ₹1,856.67 crore .
Which cities will benefit from the Khelo India Sports Goods Manufacturing Scheme?
Established sports goods clusters in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) and Jalandhar (Punjab) are expected to be primary beneficiaries of the scheme's investment and support.
How does this scheme connect to Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat?
The scheme is designed to integrate the Khelo India sports development programme with the Make in India manufacturing push, aligning with the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal of reducing imports and building export competitiveness in sports goods.
