Khelo India is India’s flagship grassroots sports programme. It started as one school event and grew into several national game series. This article explains it in simple words.
mcqquestion.com · General Knowledge🏆 Play India
🏆 Khelo India
India’s grassroots sports programme
2018Launched as School Games
2019Renamed Youth Games
2020University Games begin
2020Winter Games begin
Rs 5 lakhAnnual scholarship for top talent
1,000Young athletes shortlisted
💡A single school event kept splitting into new game series, each widening who Khelo India reaches.
General Knowledge · GK0020youth & talent
Must Know
What Is Khelo India
- DefinitionKhelo India is the Centre’s flagship national sports development programme.
- LaunchThe Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched it in 2017.
- OriginIt replaced three older schemes: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and the National Sports Talent Search Scheme.
- StructureIt runs through 12 separate verticals covering competitions, coaching, and infrastructure.
- Name“Khelo” is Hindi for “play.” Khelo India means “Play India.”
Who Runs It and the Game Series
- MinistryThe Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports owns the programme.
- AgencyThe Sports Authority of India runs most day-to-day training and events.
- SeriesKhelo India holds three annual Games: the Youth Games, the University Games, and the Winter Games.
- ExtraIt also runs the periodic Khelo India Para Games, for athletes with disabilities.
- So whatTogether, these cover athletes from school age through university and Paralympic level.
Good to Know
How It Started and the Youth Games
- LaunchThe first Khelo India Games ran from 31 January to 8 February 2018, in New Delhi.
- StartPM Modi launched the Games at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
- ScaleThat first edition covered 16 disciplines, for athletes under 17.
- RenameIn 2019, the Games were renamed the Khelo India Youth Games.
- PartnerThe Indian Olympic Association joined as a partner that year.
- SinceLater editions were held in Pune, Guwahati, Panchkula, Bhopal, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
The University and Winter Games
- LaunchThe first Khelo India University Games ran in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, Odisha.
- DatesIt ran from 22 February to 1 March 2020.
- OpenedPM Modi opened that edition in person.
- WinterThe Khelo India Winter Games also began in 2020, in Leh and Gulmarg.
- ScaleAbout 955 athletes competed in that first Winter Games edition.
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Great to Know
The Talent ID Scheme and the Para Games
- SchemeThe Khelo India Talent Development Scheme selects 1,000 young athletes every year.
- SupportEach selected athlete gets an annual scholarship of ₹5 lakh, for up to 8 years.
- ScreeningSince 2024, the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme screens candidates aged 9 to 18.
- FeedKIRTI feeds talent into the scholarship pipeline above.
- ScaleKIRTI’s first phase drew over 3.6 lakh registrations.
- ResultClose to 51,000 athletes were assessed, across 28 states and Union Territories.
- Para GamesThe first Khelo India Para Games ran in New Delhi, from 10 to 17 December 2023.
- ScaleAbout 1,450 para-athletes from 32 states and Union Territories took part.
- SportsThey competed across 7 sports, including para athletics, para shooting, and para archery.
- WinnerHaryana topped the medal tally, with 105 medals.
PYQ / Exam Angle
The Khelo India Mascot
- QuestionNDA and other competitive exams ask the mascot of the Khelo India Youth Games 2020.
- WhyThe 2020 Games in Guwahati had two mascots: Vijaya, a tiger, and Jaya, a blackbuck, both reflecting Assam wildlife.
- LinkSource: NDA (I & II) 2020, General Ability (see this question). Test yourself on this question
The National Sports Awards
- QuestionSSC and other competitive exams ask about the National Sports Awards.
- WhyThe awards honour India’s best athletes.
- LinkSource: SSC CGL 2024, General Awareness (see this question).
Sports Awards
- QuestionUPSC and other competitive exams ask to match sports awards with their descriptions.
- WhyThe Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna is India’s highest sporting honour.
- LinkSource: UPSC CSP 2023, GS Paper I (see this question).
Current Affairs / So What
Khelo India Today
- GrowthKhelo India now runs many centres and series.
- ReachIt trains young athletes across the country.
- So whatIt keeps expanding.
The Revamped Scheme
- 31 Jul 2026 The Cabinet approved a revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations, with a combined outlay of ₹36,441 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31. (Source: PIB)
- Scale The new outlay is nearly eight times the previous Khelo India Scheme. (Source: PIB)
- New Category The scheme creates Emerging Khelo India Athletes (E-KIAs), alongside existing Khelo India Athletes, expanding the athlete pool nearly ten-fold. (Source: PIB)
- School Level Two new school initiatives, Khelo India Feeder Schools and Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas, integrate sport with mainstream education. (Source: PIB)
- Numbers, Confirmed The scheme will nurture 9,000 Khelo India Athletes and 18,000 Emerging Khelo India Athletes across 30 priority sports disciplines.
- Coaching Standards A new National Coach Accreditation Board (NCAB) will standardise coach certification across the scheme.
- Digital Platform An AI-driven platform called “Khel Setu” will support the scheme’s talent-tracking and administration.
- Detail SourcePIB, 17 September 2026.
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