Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined India's sporting vision during the Khelo India Samvaad video conference on August 27, 2026, addressing youth from over 5,000 institutes as part of National Sports Day celebrations. The PM emphasized that sports integration is crucial for building a Viksit Bharat, stating that India must expand into sports disciplines where it currently doesn't participate to increase medal tallies. He announced a massive national talent hunt targeting children aged 5 to 15 and committed full government support for this initiative.
India's long-term strategy specifically targets the 2036 Olympics, aiming to develop capabilities across a wide range of disciplines. Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted that sports has become a national priority under PM Modi's leadership, noting the Prime Minister's personal connection with athletes and consistent support during both victories and defeats. The MyBharat platform has engaged more than 2.4 crore youth in nation-building activities alongside their careers.
The government's youth-centric approach to policy-making was evidenced by this year's budget being designated as the Youth-Centric Budget based on youth ideas. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that the National Sports Governance Act strengthens transparency, accountability, and fair opportunity in sports administration. Olympic medallist Gagan Narang acknowledged improved administrative changes providing better equipment for international competitions, while Paralympic bronze medallist Sheetal Devi noted changing societal attitudes toward para-athletes' capabilities.