India's improving performance in para-sport reflects a shift from a welfare to a rights-based approach to disability. Discuss with reference to recent schemes.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 turned disability from an object of charity into a question of equal opportunity, including in sport [7]. India's record 114 medals and best-ever 4th place at the 2026 Asian Para Games show this shift taking root, though unevenly [1].

From welfare to rights

• Welfare model: disability is seen as dependency. Aid is one-off charity, and para-athletes are passive beneficiaries.
• Rights model: the focus is equal access, dignity and choice. The State must remove barriers, so sport is an entitlement, not a concession.

Recent schemes reflecting the shift

• Khelo India: has a dedicated vertical for persons with disabilities. Each of the 2023 and 2025 Khelo India Para Games had 1,300+ athletes [2].
• TOPS Para Core: 62 para-athletes get elite funding and stipends alongside Olympic athletes, which gives them parity in high-performance support [3].
• Institutional voice: MYAS recognises the PCI, AISCD and Special Olympics Bharat as federations for different disability categories [4].
• Long-term commitment: the revamped Khelo India (2026-31) has an outlay of ₹36,441 crore [3]. Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 promises dedicated facilities for persons with disabilities [8].
• Outcome: medals rose from 14 (2010) to 114 (2026), won by 168 athletes, about half the Hangzhou contingent [1].

Gaps: welfare habits persist

• Capacity: about 45% of SAI posts are vacant, some NCOEs are not working, and kit and nutrition stipends have not been revised for years [5].
• Split responsibility: barrier-free stadiums are funded through SIPDA, while sports facilities come under Khelo India, so two departments share one job [7].
• Regional exclusion: Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha received no Khelo India grants [6].
• Narrow pipeline: elite funding reaches 62 para-athletes, while 1,300+ compete nationally [2][3]. Doping withdrawals cut the Hangzhou tally from 111 to 108 [1].

Recent schemes have moved para-sport from charity towards entitlement, and the rise in medals reflects this. To make it last, India should fill SAI vacancies, raise stipends and adopt a state sports index that also counts para-sport [5]. It should also plan venues jointly under SIPDA and Khelo India. This would fulfil the promise of equal participation in the RPwD Act and UNCRPD, and advance SDG 10 (reduced inequalities).