UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSFs)

Q1. The figure of Rs. 36,441 crore cleared by the Union Cabinet in July 2026 for the sports sector is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The five-year outlay of the Khelo India Scheme alone, the federation grants being budgeted separately
  • B. The five-year combined outlay of the Khelo India Scheme and the Assistance to National Sports Federations
  • C. The five-year budget of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, including establishment and secretariat costs
  • D. The five-year combined outlay of the Khelo India Scheme and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme

Q2. The outlay sanctioned for the revamped Khelo India Scheme in July 2026 is approximately how many times the outlay of the scheme it replaces?

  • A. About 3 times
  • B. About 5 times
  • C. About 8 times
  • D. About 10 times

Q3. In the Revamped Khelo India Programme cleared in 2017, the largest body of intended beneficiaries was covered by which one of its components?

  • A. The Pan India Sports Scholarship Scheme for talented athletes in select disciplines
  • B. The promotion of selected universities as hubs of sporting excellence
  • C. The national physical fitness drive for children in the 10-18 age group
  • D. The accreditation and incentivisation of private sports academies across States

Q4. The talent-identification centres, training centres and athlete scholarships built up under the Khelo India Scheme since its revamp are operationalised on the ground chiefly by which body?

  • A. The Sports Authority of India
  • B. The National Anti-Doping Agency of India
  • C. The Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education
  • D. The National Centre for Sports Science and Research

Q5. With reference to the revised norms of assistance to National Sports Federations, consider the following: 1. At least 20% of a federation's annual budget must be earmarked for grassroots development through its affiliate units. 2. At least 10% of the funding provided under the scheme is to be allocated for development of coaches and technical staff. 3. A federation with an annual budget of Rs. 10 crore or more must appoint a High-Performance Director. 4. At least 25% of the funding provided under the scheme may be used for administrative personnel such as chief executives and managers. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. At least 20% of a federation's annual budget must be earmarked for grassroots development through its affiliate units.
  2. At least 10% of the funding provided under the scheme is to be allocated for development of coaches and technical staff.
  3. A federation with an annual budget of Rs. 10 crore or more must appoint a High-Performance Director.
  4. At least 25% of the funding provided under the scheme may be used for administrative personnel such as chief executives and managers.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q6. Under the revised norms, the financial assistance available to a federation for conducting a national championship in a High-Priority sport has been raised to what amount?

  • A. Rs. 51 lakh
  • B. Rs. 75 lakh
  • C. Rs. 90 lakh
  • D. Rs. 2 crore

Q7. The clearance given by the Union Cabinet in July 2026 to the revamped sports schemes is, in budgetary terms, best understood as which one of the following?

  • A. Sanction of a five-year outlay within which the money will still be provided through annual budgetary allocations
  • B. An immediate one-time release of the entire sanctioned amount to the implementing agency at the outset
  • C. A ceiling on the matching contributions payable by State Governments under a centrally sponsored scheme
  • D. An in-principle clearance that must be ratified by Parliament through a separate enabling legislation

Q8. The outlay approved for the revamped sports schemes in July 2026 will be routed through the demand for grants of which Ministry?

  • A. The Ministry of Education, which anchors sports integration in school curricula
  • B. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which administers both the approved schemes
  • C. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, which anchors the promotion of indigenous and traditional games
  • D. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, which certifies coaches and trainers

Q9. Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 envisages private participation in building and running sports infrastructure principally through which route?

  • A. Public-private partnerships and Corporate Social Responsibility contributions
  • B. A dedicated sports cess on corporate turnover, remitted to the Sports Authority of India
  • C. Sovereign bonds issued by the Ministry of Finance earmarked for stadium construction
  • D. Viability gap funding for sports projects administered through NITI Aayog

Q10. The Sports Authority of India, which runs the training-centre network under Khelo India, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Sports, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
  • B. The Department of Youth Affairs, under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
  • C. The Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Ministry of Education
  • D. The Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education

Q11. Consider the following statements comparing India's current sports policy and scheme architecture: 1. Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 by integrating sports into school curricula and providing specialised teacher training. 2. Khelo Bharat Niti is a policy framework approved by the Union Cabinet, whereas Khelo India is a funded scheme with a defined outlay and period. 3. The Khelo India Mission announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 sets the goal of placing India among the world's top five sporting nations by 2036. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Khelo Bharat Niti, 2025 aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 by integrating sports into school curricula and providing specialised teacher training.
  2. Khelo Bharat Niti is a policy framework approved by the Union Cabinet, whereas Khelo India is a funded scheme with a defined outlay and period.
  3. The Khelo India Mission announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 sets the goal of placing India among the world's top five sporting nations by 2036.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, what out-of-pocket allowance is paid, and to whom?

  • A. Rs. 25,000 a month, paid to every athlete supported under the scheme
  • B. Rs. 50,000 a month, paid to athletes placed in the Core Group
  • C. Rs. 10,000 a month, paid exclusively for days outside national coaching camps
  • D. Rs. 1,00,000 a month, paid to all Olympic and Paralympic medallists