According to officials familiar with the deliberations, the proposed scheme could come into effect from April 1, 2026, and run for a period of five years. The move is aimed at strengthening India’s position as a competitive global supplier of sports equipment, particularly as the country expands its footprint in international trade through recent free trade agreements (FTAs).
The government is examining a mix of capital investment support and production-linked subsidies to catalyse fresh capacity creation and technology upgrades in the sector. The focus is expected to be on modernising manufacturing infrastructure, improving product quality, and scaling up exports.
At present, India’s sports goods industry remains fragmented, with a significant presence of micro, small and medium enterprises clustered in hubs such as Meerut and Jalandhar. Policymakers believe targeted fiscal support could help formalise the ecosystem and enhance global competitiveness.
In parallel, the Sports Ministry is exploring measures to assist domestic manufacturers in securing certifications and approvals from international sports federations. Certification is often a prerequisite for supplying equipment for global tournaments and professional leagues, and industry players have flagged cost and compliance hurdles as key bottlenecks.
Officials said the Centre is also working on mechanisms to enhance brand recognition for Indian sports manufacturers in overseas markets. This could include coordinated promotion efforts and alignment with export promotion councils.
The proposed policy push comes at a time when India has concluded or is negotiating trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). These FTAs are expected to open up a large consumer base and reduce tariff barriers for Indian-made sports goods, potentially unlocking a multi-crore export opportunity.
The government is understood to be targeting manufacturing across all 36 Olympic disciplines, with a view to building scale in equipment ranging from athletics gear and racquets to team sport apparatus and high-performance training equipment.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
