The Centre will organise the nationwide “Khelo India Dialogue – Khel Ki Baat, Pradhan Mantri Modi Ke Saath” on August 27 as part of the celebrations for National Sports Day 2026. The initiative will connect young athletes, students, sportspersons and policymakers across more than 1,500 educational institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address young participants virtually during the programme and speak on sports, youth leadership and the vision of Viksit Bharat. The initiative is designed to provide young people with a platform to share ideas and suggestions on the future of India's sports ecosystem and youth development.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), institutions including IITs, IIMs, NITs, AIIMS, leading medical colleges and universities will participate in the nationwide programme. Physical programmes will begin simultaneously at participating institutions after the Prime Minister's virtual address.

Four Key Themes

The dialogue will focus on four broad areas related to sports and youth development. These include strengthening grassroots sports infrastructure, improving coaching and opportunities for athletes, developing talent for the 2036 Olympics and encouraging greater youth participation in governance.

The programme will also discuss future-ready skills, volunteering and opportunities for young people to contribute to nation-building.

A major focus will be on identifying and nurturing sporting talent through scientific methods and structured athlete development. The initiative comes amid India's broader efforts to strengthen its sporting ecosystem and prepare athletes for future international competitions.

Athletes to Interact With Youth

Young participants will also get an opportunity to interact with leading Indian sportspersons and medal winners. According to the PIB, prominent athletes including Deepa Karmakar, Saina Nehwal, Gagan Narang, Sreejesh, Mary Kom, Baichung Bhutia, Gopichand, Anju Bobby George, Karnam Malleswari, Mirabai Chanu and P.T. Usha will participate.

Prominent cricketers are also expected to engage with young participants and discuss their sporting journeys, challenges and experiences.

The interactions are intended to give students and aspiring athletes a closer understanding of the challenges involved in building a sporting career and the experiences of athletes who have competed at the highest levels.

Policymakers to Join Dialogue

The programme will bring policymakers into direct interaction with young people. Members of Parliament, MLAs, Union Ministers, Ministers of State and state sports ministers will participate at various locations.

They will engage with youth and gather suggestions on the four identified themes, creating a platform for discussions between young people, athletes and government representatives.

The government has positioned the initiative as a way to connect the experiences and aspirations of young people at the grassroots level with policymaking.

Focus on 2036 Olympics

The development of athletes with an eye on the 2036 Olympics will be one of the key areas of discussion. The dialogue will explore scientific talent identification and athlete development as part of efforts to build a stronger pipeline of sporting talent.

The government is also seeking to expand youth participation beyond competitive sports by encouraging leadership, volunteering and engagement in nation-building activities.

Quiz and MY Bharat Registration

The programme will also feature the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue Quiz. Young participants will be encouraged to register on the MY Bharat Portal, providing an opportunity for continued youth engagement beyond the August 27 event.

The nationwide format is expected to bring together thousands of young people at educational institutions across the country, allowing them to participate in discussions around sports, leadership and India's future development.

The initiative is being organised as part of National Sports Day 2026 and aims to place young people at the centre of discussions on India's sporting transformation and youth development.

 With nearly 65 per cent of India's population below the age of 35, the government has placed youth empowerment at the centre of its long-term development strategy, focusing on education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship, sports, health and civic participation.

The government said these initiatives are aimed at turning India's demographic advantage into a development dividend and enabling the country's young population, described as the “Amrit Peedhi,” to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

MY Bharat Expands Youth Participation

At the centre of the youth-focused approach is Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), a technology-driven platform launched in October 2023 for young people aged 15 to 29.

The platform brings volunteering, experiential learning, leadership development, skill-building, career support and civic participation under a nationwide ecosystem.

As of July 2026, more than 2.22 crore young people had registered on the platform. More than 1.52 lakh volunteering opportunities have been made available, covering community service, environmental activities, cultural initiatives and public programmes.

The platform has also facilitated more than 24,900 experiential learning programmes, connecting young people with sectors including governance, healthcare, media, technology and public service.

Education Gains Digital Push

The government highlighted improvements across India's education system, with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 placing learners at the centre and seeking closer links between school education, higher education, skills and employment.

India has around 14.67 lakh schools, serving 24.72 crore students and employing more than 1.02 crore teachers.

The secondary-level dropout rate declined from 14.54 per cent in 2013-14 to 7 per cent in 2025-26, according to the government.

Digital infrastructure has also expanded. More than 1.49 lakh schools had been covered under ICT and digital initiatives by 2025-26, while over 1.76 lakh smart classrooms and 1.79 lakh ICT laboratories had been approved by March 2026.

The government also said more than 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs have engaged over 1.1 crore students and supported more than 16 lakh projects.

Higher Education and Innovation

Higher education enrolment increased from 3.4 crore students in 2014-15 to 4.5 crore in 2023-24. Female enrolment rose by 42.2 per cent over the 2014-15 level to reach around 2.2 crore in 2023-24.

Innovation infrastructure has expanded as well. The government said 85 Atal Incubation Centres have supported more than 2,900 startups and helped generate over 32,000 jobs.

More than 700 universities and 7,500 affiliated colleges have adopted the National Credit Framework.

The Academic Bank of Credits has connected 3,123 institutions, while more than 35.27 crore APAAR IDs had been issued by August 12, 2026.

The SWAYAM platform offered more than 20,370 courses and recorded over 6.5 crore enrolments as of August 12.

Skills, Jobs and Startups

The government said its skill-development programmes have empowered more than 6 crore people.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, more than 1.64 crore young people have received training across four phases since 2015, including programmes related to artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, electronics and green energy.

The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme had enrolled more than 54.41 lakh apprentices by March 2026.

India's startup ecosystem has also expanded sharply. The number of recognised startups rose from around 350 before 2014 to more than 2.47 lakh by August 2026, making India the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, according to the government.

The Prime Minister's Internship Scheme had offered 1,64,902 internship opportunities across 31 sectors as of August 12.

Sports Infrastructure Expands

Youth development has also been linked with sports and fitness.

Under the Khelo India programme, 349 sports infrastructure projects worth ₹3,176 crore have been approved, alongside 1,067 Khelo India Centres and 267 academies.

The programme currently supports 2,745 athletes, while more than 63,000 athletes have participated in Khelo India Games across youth, university, winter, para, beach, water sports and tribal categories since 2018.

The Target Olympic Podium Scheme supports 51 core athletes, 52 para-core athletes and 130 development athletes.

For the period from 2026-27 to 2030-31, a total outlay of ₹36,441 crore has been earmarked for the revised Khelo India scheme and enhanced assistance to national sports federations.

Focus on Health and Wellbeing

The government has also highlighted adolescent health, mental healthcare and substance-abuse prevention as key components of youth empowerment.

The number of Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics increased from 6,619 in 2014-15 to 7,203 in 2021-22. Registrations at these facilities have also increased substantially.

Tele-MANAS had handled more than 43.70 lakh calls through 53 cells as of August 12, 2026, with support from mentoring institutions and regional coordination centres.

The government said the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan had reached more than 30.05 crore people, including 11.86 crore young people, by August 12. More than 28.56 lakh activities had been conducted in educational institutions, while over 28.29 lakh people had received treatment and rehabilitation support.

Building the Amrit Peedhi

The government said the expansion of education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship, civic participation, sports and healthcare is contributing to a broader transformation in India's youth demographic.

The focus is increasingly shifting from young people being beneficiaries of government programmes to becoming participants and co-creators in development.

According to the government, digital platforms, institutional reforms and targeted programmes are creating the foundation for a generation capable of contributing to India's long-term development goals.

The initiatives are being positioned as part of the broader effort to enable India's Amrit Peedhi to play a central role in shaping Viksit Bharat@2047.

The visit brought together young athletes, sports administrators and former sporting greats at one of cricket’s most celebrated venues. Modi’s interaction with emerging players highlighted the growing emphasis both nations are placing on sports development and people-to-people engagement.

Young athletes gathered at the MCG enthusiastically welcomed the Indian Prime Minister, with several taking photographs and seeking autographs. Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh was also present during the event and met both leaders.

Addressing the gathering, Modi said the Melbourne Cricket Ground evokes special memories for Indians because of the rich history of India-Australia cricket contests. He noted that cricket remains a shared passion connecting millions of people in both countries.

However, the Prime Minister stressed that future cooperation would not remain limited to cricket alone.

According to the roadmap unveiled by the two leaders, India and Australia will work together across a wider range of sporting disciplines. Areas identified for cooperation include athlete development, sports science, coaching, sports technology, sports management and talent identification.

Modi said he had the opportunity to interact with young athletes involved in cricket, kabaddi and Australian rules football, describing sports as an effective bridge between societies.

The initiative comes at a time when both countries are seeking to expand cooperation beyond traditional sectors such as trade, defence and education. Sports has increasingly emerged as an important component of bilateral engagement, supported by strong people-to-people connections and a large Indian diaspora presence in Australia.

During his remarks, the Prime Minister also highlighted India's efforts to strengthen its sporting ecosystem through programmes such as Khelo India. He said the initiative has opened opportunities for talented athletes from smaller towns, villages and ordinary families to pursue competitive sports at higher levels.

India's ambitions in global sport also featured prominently in the discussion. Modi reiterated India's intention to host the 2036 Olympic Games, while noting that Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympics. He said major international sporting events create opportunities for nations to collaborate in infrastructure development, athlete training and knowledge sharing.

The Prime Minister also referred to women's cricket and conveyed his best wishes to the Australian women's team. Looking ahead, he said sporting exchanges between India and Australia would continue to grow as both countries learn from each other's experiences.

In a notable announcement, Modi said a match of Australia's Big Bash League would be staged in Chennai, reflecting the growing commercial and sporting links between the two cricket-loving nations. He observed that sporting events held in India benefit from significant audience reach and fan engagement. The launch of the sports collaboration roadmap adds another dimension to the expanding India-Australia relationship, which has seen increasing cooperation across multiple sectors in recent years.

The ASMITA Programme, organised under the flagship initiatives of the Fit India Movement and Khelo India, was held on Saturday at Cambridge School, bringing together young athletes, sports administrators, and educators to promote inclusivity and excellence in sports.

The event was graced by Parul Singh, President of the Delhi Paralympic Committee, who attended as the Chief Guest. Her presence underscored the growing emphasis on para-sports and inclusive participation in India’s sporting ecosystem.

The programme, conducted under the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, focused on encouraging greater participation of women and young students in sports.

Addressing the gathering, Parul Singh reiterated that increasing sports engagement among girls and school students remains a national priority. “It is the vision of the Prime Minister that more and more women, especially young girls, actively participate in sports. This will strengthen the country’s sporting culture and help India achieve greater success at national and international levels,” she said. 

The programme was initiated by Rahul Pawar and saw participation from key figures including Rahul Pawar, General Secretary of the Handball Association of Noida, Dr. DS Atri, former Ranji cricket player and sports manager associated with the school.

The ASMITA initiative is aimed at creating a structured platform for nurturing grassroots talent while fostering an inclusive sporting environment, particularly for women and differently-abled athletes.