Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a virtual address to young athletes, students, and youth leaders across more than 1,500 educational institutions on 27 August 2026 as part of the Khelo India Dialogue – Khel Ki Baat, Pradhan Mantri Modi Ke Saath, a nationwide initiative timed to coincide with National Sports Day 2026. The programme aims to create a structured platform for India's youth to contribute ideas toward strengthening the country's sporting ecosystem and broader youth development agenda.

Scale and Scope of the Programme

The initiative will run simultaneously across participating institutions, with Modi's virtual address followed by physical events at each venue. Among the institutions expected to take part are IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, leading medical colleges, and universities nationwide. The sheer geographic spread makes this one of the largest single-day youth engagement exercises in recent memory.

Beyond the Prime Minister's address, elected representatives including Members of Parliament, MLAs, Union Ministers, Ministers of State, and State Sports Ministers will participate at various locations, engaging young people on the programme's four core themes.

Four Focus Areas

The dialogue is structured around four broad pillars: strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure, coaching, and competitive opportunities; identifying and nurturing talent with a view to the 2036 Olympics; increasing youth participation in governance and leadership; and equipping young people with future-ready skills, volunteering pathways, and nation-building avenues.

The emphasis on the 2036 Olympics is notable — discussions are expected to centre on scientific talent identification, athlete development pipelines, and creating stronger pathways from grassroots to elite competition. India's Olympic medal tally has grown incrementally in recent cycles, and officials see structured early identification as a critical lever.

India's Sporting Icons to Engage Directly with Youth

A standout feature of the programme is direct interaction between participants and some of India's most celebrated athletes. Confirmed to engage with the youth are Deepa Karmakar, Saina Nehwal, Gagan Narang, PR Sreejesh, Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia, Pullela Gopichand, Anju Bobby George, Karnam Malleswari, Mirabai Chanu, and P.T. Usha. These athletes are expected to share their personal journeys, the challenges they navigated, and their experiences in competitive sport — offering participants a rare, unmediated window into elite athletic life.

Beyond Sports Day: Sustained Engagement

Organisers have signalled that the initiative is designed for impact beyond a single day. Participants will be encouraged to register on the MY Bharat Portal and take part in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue Quiz, extending the conversation into an ongoing youth engagement framework. This comes amid a broader government push to channel youth energy into structured civic and sporting participation ahead of India's aspirations for the 2036 Olympics.

With athletes, students, policymakers, and elected representatives converging on a single platform, the Khelo India Dialogue represents an attempt to give young Indians a more direct voice in shaping the country's sporting and developmental future.