Srinagar, Aug 31 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir has prepared a five-year roadmap to maximise Central assistance under the Khelo India programme, with the Union Territory aiming to secure around Rs 1,000-1,200 crore between 2026 and 2031 for strengthening sports infrastructure and nurturing talent.
The roadmap was discussed at the first meeting of the UT Level Coordination Committee (UTLCC), chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo here on Monday.
Dulloo directed all deputy commissioners to adopt a district-driven approach and prepare comprehensive sports development plans to leverage the rechristened Khelo India 2026-31 scheme.
The districts have been asked to submit their plans by September 15, 2026.
“Jammu and Kashmir has consistently demonstrated remarkable sporting talent. Young athletes need the right platforms, facilities, coaching and exposure to hone their abilities and compete at the highest levels,” Dulloo said.
He called upon departments and districts to seek the maximum admissible funding under the programme, with a focus on developing Centres of Excellence and strengthening the sports ecosystem from the grassroots to the elite level.
Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, presented the roadmap and outlined the UT’s strategy to tap various funding windows under the national programme.
The roadmap seeks to cover the entire sports development chain, from grassroots participation in schools to preparation of elite athletes capable of competing at Olympic and international levels, officials said.
According to the presentation, the Khelo India programme has a total financial outlay of Rs 28,489 crore for 2026-31, including administrative expenses. The annual allocation is projected to rise from Rs 3,173 crore in 2026-27 to Rs 9,198 crore in 2030-31.
The largest component is Khelo India Training Facilities, with an allocation of Rs 10,586 crore, followed by Strengthening Strategic Sports Assets (Rs 4,963 crore), Sports Infrastructure for Medal Strategy (Rs 4,866 crore), Talent Identification and Development (Rs 2,407 crore), and Sports Competitions and Leagues (Rs 2,358 crore).
Other components include Rs 1,400 crore for the State Action Plan for Sports Infrastructure Development, Rs 748 crore for coach and support staff development, Rs 302 crore for sports technology and Rs 300 crore for the Fit India Movement.
The roadmap also envisages a ten-fold increase in the number of athletes supported by the UT through enhanced talent identification and development mechanisms.
Khel SETU will be used as an integrated platform to map and identify sporting talent in schools and universities. The plan also proposes capacity-building programmes for Physical Education Teachers in government schools.
A four-level coaching framework, systematic training of local trainers, community coaches and PETs through E-Khel Paathshala, and focused development of women coaches have also been proposed.
At the elite level, the roadmap envisages setting up Olympic Training Centres, upgrading existing facilities into National Centres of Excellence and encouraging accredited private academies to participate through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
It also proposes expansion of Khelo India Centres, introduction of Khelo India Utkarsha Vidyalayas and feeder schools, and development of specialised training facilities.
Technology has been identified as another key area, with proposed AI-based platforms for sports talent identification and athlete performance analytics, sports infrastructure and youth services management, and digital youth health screening.
The technology initiatives are proposed in collaboration with premier technical institutions, including NIT Srinagar and IIT Jammu.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Public Works Department, Youth Services and Sports, Social Welfare, Education, Planning and Rural Development departments, besides Director General-level officers. Deputy commissioners participated through video conferencing.—(NVI)
