India on Thursday unveiled an ambitious schedule of 29 international events over the next two years as part of its efforts to bolster its credentials as a host nation in its bid to win the right to organize the 2036 Olympic Games. India, the world's most populous country, is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, while continuing its pursuit to win the rights to host the 2036 Olympics and the 2038 Asian Games in the same western city. Since last year, India has organized 36 international competitions in 15 cities and is on track to host 65 events by 2028, a target it hopes will demonstrate its ability to organize major multi-sport events on the scale of the Olympics. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in a statement: 'Hosting international competitions has become a cornerstone of India's sports ecosystem.' He added: 'As we prepare to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and bid for the 2036 Olympics, the experience gained from hosting events in 15 cities will help us further enhance our capabilities.' Mandaviya explained that hosting events on home soil has significantly reduced the financial burden of sending athletes abroad, while helping create sustainable sports infrastructure and building technical expertise among officials and volunteers. India's sports agenda for this year includes the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, as well as the World Amateur Snooker Championships and the Badminton World Championships. The sports ministry said that in addition to these events, national sports federations are also applying to host continental and world championships, as India looks to strengthen its position as a destination for major international sporting events.