Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday, 10 July 2026, shared a statement attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscoring the grassroots ambition of the Khelo India programme — that it is creating a pool of thousands of athletes beginning at the school level.

Quoting the Prime Minister directly, Mandaviya posted: 'Khelo India abhiyan school level se hi hazaron khilaadiyon ka ek pool taiyaar kar raha hai' — ('The Khelo India campaign is building a pool of thousands of players right from the school level'). The minister's post, accompanied by a video, amplifies the government's framing of the scheme as a long-term talent pipeline rather than a short-term intervention.

Context

The Khelo India scheme was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with the explicit mandate of identifying and nurturing sporting talent at the grassroots. The programme established a structured pathway that begins in schools, where coaches and selectors scout for potential athletes across disciplines. This school-first approach is central to the government's strategy of broadening the base of competitive sports in India.

Mandaviya, who holds the Youth Affairs and Sports portfolio alongside Labour and Employment, has been the political face of the scheme's current phase. His decision to quote PM Modi directly signals that sports development remains a priority at the highest level of government.

Policy Backdrop

Successive central governments have expanded sports funding and infrastructure schemes with an eye on India's performance at marquee international events, including the Olympics and Asian Games. The emphasis on school-level entry points reflects a recognition that elite athletes require years of structured training, and that late identification has historically cost Indian sport potential medal winners.

The Khelo India Games — held annually across different host states — serve as the primary competitive platform where school and college athletes identified through the scheme can demonstrate their progress. Khelo India Centres, set up in districts across the country, provide coaching infrastructure closer to where young athletes live, reducing the barriers of geography and cost.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the Khelo India programme are school-going students and aspiring athletes from across India, including those from smaller towns and rural areas who previously had limited access to quality coaching. By institutionalising talent scouting at the school level, the scheme aims to democratise access to elite sports pathways.

State governments, district sports bodies, and school administrations are key implementation partners, responsible for identifying venues, deploying coaches, and facilitating participation in the Khelo India Games. The scheme's success therefore depends heavily on coordination between the Centre and state governments.

What's Next

Observers will watch for the rollout of Khelo India Centres in additional districts and the results of upcoming editions of the Khelo India Games as measurable indicators of whether the athlete pool being built at school level is translating into competitive performance. With India's aspirations at future Olympics growing, the scale and quality of this grassroots pipeline will be a key benchmark for the ministry's sports policy.

The minister's public amplification of PM Modi's statement suggests the government intends to keep the Khelo India narrative prominent, likely as part of a broader communication push around youth and sports ahead of major international sporting calendars.