Union Budget 2026: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Unveils Ambitious Push for Sports Goods Sector And Innovation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a monumental push for the development of the industry for sporting goods and sports innovation in her speech for the Union Budget 2026 at the Parliament.

FM Sitharaman's push for sports goods is being made in a bid to develop the country as a global hub for the same.

With the Union Budget 2026 currently tabled in Parliament, sportspersons around the country have their attention on how beneficial sports are.

India To Emerge As Sports Goods Manufacturing Hub As FM Sitharaman Unveils Huge Push

During the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted how India can emerge as a hub for high-quality manufacturing of sports goods. The Indian FM announced a dedicated initiative for sports goods, promoting the manufacturing, research and modernisation of sports equipment design and material sciences.

"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," Nirmala Sitharaman said while presenting the 2026 Budget in Parliament.

Also Read: Budget 2026 May Focus On Sports to Accelerate India’s Game-Ready Infra Push for Commonwealth Games 2030

FM Sitharaman Also Proposes Scheme To Revive Legacy Industrial Clusters

Further in the speech, Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed bringing a scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters to help improve efficiency and cost competitiveness with technological upgrades and developing the infrastructure.

Also Read: Union Budget 2026: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Puts 'Khelo India Mission' at Centre of Ambitious Sports Sector Reform

"I propose to introduce a scheme to revive 200 legacy industrial clusters to improve their cost competitiveness and efficiency through infrastructure and technology upgradation," the Finance Minister added.

The push towards sports development has been made when India gears up to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has been pushing for the hosting rights for the 2036 Olympics.