The largest recipient of the significant increase in sports funding of Rs 351.98 crore in the Union Budget, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled here on Saturday, was the government’s flagship Khelo India initiative, which aims to identify and develop athletes at the grassroots level.

For the fiscal year 2025–2026, Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside for the ambitious plan. This exceeds the Rs 800 crore allocation from 2024–2025 by Rs 200 crore.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports received a total allocation of Rs 3,794.30 crore, representing a rise of Rs 351.98 crore. Given that there won’t be any big athletic events like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or Asian Games in the next year, the rise is significant.

Additionally, the funding allotted to National Sports Federations has been slightly increased from Rs 340 crore to Rs 400 crore.

A letter of intent has been filed to the International Olympic Committee by India, which is presently pursuing its ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.