New Delhi | 27 Aug 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged schools and families to prioritise physical activity over screen time during the Khelo India Dialogue on Thursday, while outlining a wider strategy to identify young talent and prepare India for the 2036 Olympics.
PM Modi urges schools to build a sporting culture
Addressing young people nationwide through video conferencing, Modi said physical education should become an essential part of school life rather than remain a co-curricular activity. Stronger participation at the grassroots, he argued, would expand India’s talent pool and encourage families to support aspiring athletes.
“Sports centres are more important than screens. Playgrounds are more important than PlayStations.”
— Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India
Modi also presented sport as a way to improve health, resilience and discipline. He said participation teaches people how to compete, recover from setbacks and perform under pressure, while helping young people stay away from substance abuse.
India’s 2036 Olympics strategy targets more disciplines
The Prime Minister said India must expand its participation across Olympic disciplines to improve its medal prospects. Referring to the 2012 Olympics, he noted that India competed in only 13 sports and said the country had historically remained absent from a substantial number of medal events.
He identified surfing, sport climbing and winter sports among the areas where India could make better use of its coastline, mountains and regional strengths. Each district, he said, should assess its potential and develop athletes for sports suited to local conditions.
Modi called for the immediate identification and long-term preparation of athletes capable of qualifying for the 2036 Olympics. He referred to a nationwide talent hunt for children aged five to 15, with selection based on their interests and physical suitability for particular disciplines.
He said the government would support athletes from the talent-identification stage through advanced training and international competition. Specialised sports universities, modern training centres and cooperation in sports science and coaching would form part of this ecosystem, according to the Prime Minister.
Khelo India Dialogue invites ideas from young people
Modi described the Khelo India Dialogue as a policy-shaping platform rather than a ceremonial discussion. He encouraged participants to submit ideas on talent development, sports governance and emerging career opportunities.
The programme, organised by Mera Yuva Bharat as part of the National Sports Day 2026 celebrations, brought together young participants at two colleges in every district across states and Union Territories. Local interactions were scheduled with athletes, medal winners, public representatives and MY Bharat volunteers.
The dialogue focused on five themes: sport, Olympic aspirations, youth leadership, Viksit Bharat and Nasha Mukt Yuva. Modi said the initiative was intended to connect India’s sporting ambitions with youth-led nation-building.
Sports careers and para-athletes highlighted
The Prime Minister highlighted growing career opportunities beyond competitive sport, including sports technology, equipment design, medicine, nutrition, psychology and data analytics.
He also praised Indian para-athletes, including Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar, saying their achievements had transformed public attitudes towards disability and inspired families across the country.
Modi offered advance greetings for National Sports Day on 29 August and paid tribute to hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. He said Khelo India had developed into a major platform for nurturing talent and helping young athletes pursue their sporting ambitions.
