Srinagar, Feb 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday allocated Rs 155 crore for the Sports and Youth Affairs sector in the Budget for 2026–27, marking an increase of Rs 17 crore over the revised allocation of the previous year, as his government seeks to leverage sports for youth engagement, tourism diversification, and economic activity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Presenting budget in the Legislative Assembly, Omar said the government was adopting an integrated approach linking sports, culture, fitness and civic engagement, with a focus on modern infrastructure and large-scale participation.
The Chief Minister informed the House that two Centres of Excellence and 92 Khelo India Centres have already been established across the Union Territory, creating what he described as a backbone for grassroots sports development and talent identification.
He said participation in organised sports had expanded significantly, with over 15.39 lakh students currently competing at various levels, resulting in around 2,500 athletes representing Jammu and Kashmir at the National School Games. Overall, more than 29 lakh youth engagements were recorded through sports activities up to December 2025.
To strengthen monitoring and athlete progression, Omar announced plans to build a digital athlete ecosystem, scaling registrations on the My BHARAT portal from 5.5 lakh to 20 lakh youth. The system will feature unique athlete IDs, performance dashboards, verified certificates and tracking from grassroots to elite levels, he said.
Highlighting competitive success, the Chief Minister said J&K athletes won 11 gold, 9 silver and 18 bronze medals at the 69th National School Games, while also delivering notable performances at international events, including the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The Budget also placed strong emphasis on sports tourism as a tool for economic diversification. Omar said infrastructure was being developed to promote winter sports, water sports and adventure tourism, with water sports facilities coming up at Wullar–Manasbal and Bani–Basohli.
He pointed to the growing economic footprint of marquee sporting events, particularly the Kashmir Marathon, which has emerged as a flagship sports tourism initiative. The second edition of the marathon in 2025, held alongside a three-day expo, attracted over 3,000 registrations, with participants from 27 States and Union Territories and 11 countries. The event generated Rs 2.11 crore in sponsorships and Rs 0.20 crore through registration fees, underlining its promotional and revenue potential.
Omar also cited the successful conduct of the 5th Winter Sports Programme, the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival, and the hosting of the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship, which saw participation from about 300 athletes from more than 12 countries, as evidence of Jammu and Kashmir’s growing capacity to host national and international sporting events.
Flagship competitions such as the Jammu Cyclothon, Football and Cricket Premier Cups, South Kashmir Volleyball League, Snow Festivals, and the upcoming 6th Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Gulmarg and Srinagar are expected to further consolidate J&K’s position on the national sporting map.
With the enhanced allocation, the government aims to deepen participation, improve infrastructure and position sports as both a youth development tool and an economic driver, the Chief Minister said.
