Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has placed sport at the centre of India’s long-term development narrative by announcing a revamped Khelo India Mission in the Union Budget 2026–27. Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman announced an allocation of ₹4,479.88 crore for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The allocation rises ₹685.58 crore (18%) from the 2025–26 Budget Estimate of ₹3,794.30 crore (or ₹1,133 crore from the Revised Estimate of ₹3,346.54 crore). A larger ministry budget, but not all of it is elite sport It is important to read the headline number carefully. The ₹4,479.88 crore allocation covers both sports and youth affairs under the same ministry. While elite sport is a major beneficiary, a significant share of the ministry’s spending continues to support youth-focused institutions and programmes. Within the overall outlay, the Budget remains heavily tilted towards operational spending. For 2026–27, nearly the entire allocation is classified under revenue expenditure, with only a small component earmarked as capital expenditure, indicating limited fresh investment in large-scale new infrastructure. Khelo India becomes the centrepiece At the heart …