New Delhi, Mar 20 (KNN) A NITI Aayog report has proposed roadmap envisaged an investment of around Rs 7,500 crore between 2027 and 2031 to strengthen India’s sports goods manufacturing capabilities and export competitiveness.
The report titled ‘Realising the Export Potential of India’s Sports Equipment Manufacturing Sector’ has outlining India’s manufacturing capabilities, global market opportunities, and policy measures required to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the sector.
The report has identified several challenges affecting export competitiveness of the sector, including a 15-20 percent cost disadvantage compared to competing countries, high duties on raw materials, certification costs, logistics inefficiencies, limited access to advanced technologies, and weak global branding.
To address these issues, the report recommends measures such as rationalisation of duties on critical inputs, technology upgradation support for MSMEs, development of new manufacturing clusters in port-based states, modernisation of existing clusters, and establishment of shared testing and certification facilities.
It has also suggested developing a global ‘Brand India’ framework for sports equipment.
Aligned with the government’s Make in India initiative and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the report highlights the potential of the sports equipment sector to drive export-led manufacturing growth and employment generation, particularly through MSME-led clusters.
Global Opportunity
According to the report, the global sports goods market was valued at around USD 700 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed USD 1 trillion by 2036. The sports equipment segment alone accounts for about USD 140 billion and is expected to reach USD 283 billion during the same period.
In comparison, India’s exports of sports equipment currently stand at approximately USD 275 million, representing around 0.5 percent of global exports.
India’s Current Position
India’s sports goods manufacturing ecosystem is concentrated in key clusters such as Jalandhar and Meerut, with nearly 90 percent of production undertaken by micro and small enterprises. The domestic sports goods market is estimated at about USD 2.5 billion.
The report estimates that India’s sports equipment exports could increase to approximately USD 8.1 billion by 2036, raising its share in global exports to around 11 per cent and generating about 54 lakh jobs.
(KNN Bureau)
