Union Budget 2026 Proposes Targeted Initiatives for Divyangjans and Sports Transformation
The Union government has unveiled two significant targeted initiatives in the 2026-27 budget aimed at enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities (Divyangjans) while simultaneously launching a comprehensive mission to revolutionize India's sports ecosystem. These proposals reflect a dual focus on social inclusion and national athletic development as part of India's broader growth narrative.
Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana: Skill Development for Meaningful Employment
Under the newly proposed Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, the government will prioritize skill development in specific sectors that offer task-oriented and process-driven roles considered particularly suitable for Divyangjans. The targeted industries include:
- Information Technology (IT)
- Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC)
- Hospitality
- Food and Beverages
This scheme will provide industry-relevant, customized training programs specifically tailored to different disability groups. The objective is to enable better workforce participation and sustainable income generation for Divyangjans, addressing employment gaps through strategic sectoral alignment.
Divyang Sahara Yojana: Enhancing Access to Assistive Technology
Complementing the skill development initiative, the Divyang Sahara Yojana addresses the critical need for timely access to high-quality assistive devices. As part of the budget proposals, the government plans to:
- Support the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corp. of India (ALIMCO) to scale up production
- Invest in research and development for assistive technologies
- Integrate artificial intelligence into assistive devices
The scheme also envisages strengthening PM Divyasha Kendras and supporting the establishment of Assistive Technology Marts. These modern retail-style centers will allow Divyangjans and senior citizens to see, try, and purchase assistive products under one roof, significantly improving accessibility and user choice.
Demographic Context and Industry Response
According to the 2011 Census, India has 26.8 million (2.68 crore) persons with disabilities, comprising 2.21% of the total population. This includes 14.9 million males and 11.9 million females, with 69% (18.6 million) residing in rural areas.
Sminu Jindal, founder-chairperson of Svayam and managing director of Jindal SAW Ltd, commented on these initiatives, stating that with over 2.6 crore Divyangjans in India, the budget's focused push on skilling and assistive technology sends a strong signal that inclusion is central to India's growth story.
"The Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana recognises that sectors such as IT, AVGC, hospitality and food services can offer meaningful, process-driven employment through customised skilling. Equally impactful is the Divyang Sahara Yojana, strengthening access to quality assistive devices via ALIMCO, AI-led innovation and Assistive Technology Marts," she said.
Khelo India Mission: A Decade-Long Transformation Plan
The 2026-27 budget also marks a significant step toward strengthening India's sports ecosystem through the launch of the Khelo India Mission, envisioned to transform the sports sector over the next decade.
In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced: "The sports sector provides multiple means of employment, skilling and job opportunities. Taking forward the systematic nurturing of sports talent, which was set in motion through The Khelo India programme earlier, I propose to launch a Khelo India mission to transform the sports sector over the next decade."
Comprehensive Framework for Sports Development
Under the revamped framework, the mission will establish integrated talent development pathways supported by a network of foundational, intermediate, and elite-level training centers to nurture athletes from grassroots to high-performance stages. Key components include:
- Systematic development of coaches and support staff
- Integration of sports science and technology including data analytics, sports medicine, and performance monitoring
- Promotion of competitions and leagues for regular athlete exposure
- Scaling up sports infrastructure development across the country
The redesigned Khelo India Mission aims to create a coherent, end-to-end sports development system that ensures talent identification, training, competition, and performance enhancement are seamlessly linked at every stage.
Sports Goods Manufacturing Initiative
Recognizing India's potential in the global sports manufacturing ecosystem, the budget proposes a dedicated initiative for sports goods manufacturing with ₹500 crore allocated for promotion of sports goods manufacturing.
"India has the potential to emerge as a global hub for high quality, affordable sports goods. I propose a dedicated initiative for sports goods that will promote manufacturing, research and innovation in equipment design as well as material sciences," the finance minister stated.
This initiative is expected to promote domestic manufacturing, encourage innovation, and strengthen India's presence in global sports supply chains.
Enhanced Financial Allocation for Sports Ministry
The Union Budget 2026-27 provides enhanced financial support to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with an increase of ₹1,133 crore in overall budget allocation. The allocation has increased from ₹3,346 crore (RE) in 2025–26 to ₹4,479.88 crore (BE) in 2026–27.
This enhanced allocation will strengthen implementation of centrally driven sports and youth development schemes, including athlete development programmes, youth engagement initiatives, coaching and support systems, sports science integration and infrastructure development. The funding supports the vision of positioning India among the Top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and among the Top 5 by 2047.
Jindal further commented that the budget's emphasis on strengthening the sports ecosystem reinforces opportunities for inclusive participation, talent development and employment, advancing dignity, independence and sustainable economic participation.
"However, given the large and growing population of people with reduced mobility including the elderly, there is a strong case, both social and economic, for accessibility to be built into infrastructure and business planning from the outset, with public and private stakeholders treating it as a core requirement rather than an afterthought," she added.
Together, these initiatives represent a comprehensive approach to social inclusion and national development, combining skills, employment pathways, assistive support, and athletic excellence as integral components of India's growth trajectory.
