16 October 2026, New Delhi: India’s expanding sports infrastructure and growing ambitions to host major international events are creating new opportunities for the global turf management industry. With a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for the expanded Khelo India scheme and support for national sports federations from 2026–27 to 2030–31, natural grass is emerging as a critical component of sports infrastructure.
The confirmation of Ahmedabad as host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games has further strengthened India’s sporting ambitions, including its aspiration to host the 2036 Olympic Games. These developments are driving demand for specialised turf management, advanced machinery and water-efficient technologies.
According to Future Market Insights, India’s sports turf sensor market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 13.2% through 2036, compared with 10.3% globally. Meanwhile, the global turf protection market, valued at USD 6.38 billion in 2025, is expected to reach USD 10.58 billion by 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights.
International companies are already exploring opportunities in the country. UK-based SIS Grass has invested in bringing its hybrid-pitch technology to India following the International Cricket Council’s approval of hybrid surfaces for T20 and one-day international matches.
Golf tourism is another growth driver. At the launch of the Indian Golf Premier League in April 2026, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the segment’s potential to attract high-value visitors and support economic growth. The league has committed to mobilising USD 2 billion for golf tourism infrastructure, including in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Water Efficiency Gains Importance
India’s diverse climatic conditions, rising summer temperatures and pressure on water resources are increasing the need for smarter turf management. Although the country’s overall stage of groundwater extraction declined from 63.33% in 2017 to 60.63%, 730 of 6,762 assessment units remain classified as over-exploited, according to government data shared with Parliament in July.
Consequently, turf managers are increasingly looking at precision irrigation, soil-moisture monitoring, heat-tolerant grass varieties and advanced machinery to maintain playing surfaces while reducing water consumption and operating costs.
“India will soon host the world’s athletes and golfers on its own grass, and that grass performs in conditions few other countries face,” said Wg. Cdr. Arun K. Singh, President of the Golf Course Superintendents & Managers Association of India (GCS&MAI).
“Global companies clearly see India’s potential. Our opportunity is to build Indian expertise that meets world standards with less water and at lower cost. If we get this right, India will not just import turf knowledge. It will set the benchmark for managing grass in a hotter, drier world,” he added.
Vinod Goyal, Secretary General of GCS&MAI, emphasised the economic value of well-maintained sports grounds and golf courses.
“A well-kept course or sports ground brings tournaments, tourists, property value and jobs, and it deserves to be managed like any other infrastructure,” he said.
“Turf care in India is moving from experience to diagnosis. Our superintendents are using soil science, grass selection and the right machinery to solve problems at the root, and that saves both water and money,” Goyal added.
GCS&MAI will bring together turf, irrigation, agronomy and machinery experts from India, the UK, the US and Japan at a technical programme scheduled for October 24 at Noida Golf Course. Discussions will focus on water-efficient irrigation, seasonal turf management and mechanisation under Indian conditions.
As India expands its sporting infrastructure, the adoption of science-led turf management practices is expected to play an increasingly important role in improving playing surfaces, conserving water and supporting the growth of the country’s sports and golf tourism sectors.
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