Overview
Khelo India (Hindi for “Play India”) is a national programme of the Government of India aimed at developing sports across the country by fostering a robust grassroots sports culture. Launched in the 2017‑18 fiscal year under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the scheme seeks to identify sporting talent early, provide structured competition opportunities, and improve sports infrastructure.
Objectives
- Talent Identification: Conduct systematic scouting at school and district levels to discover promising athletes.
- Competitive Platforms: Organise multi‑tiered tournaments—including youth, university, winter, para, beach, water‑sports, and tribal games—to give athletes regular competitive exposure.
- Infrastructure Development: Establish and upgrade sports facilities through a network of Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) and National Centres of Excellence, each focusing on three core sporting disciplines.
- Holistic Development: Promote health, social integration, gender equality, and the revival of traditional Indian games.
Key Components
- Khelo India Youth Games – A biennial event for sub‑junior, junior, and senior athletes across a wide range of sports.
- Khelo India University Games – Provides university‑level athletes with national‑stage competition.
- Khelo India Winter Games, Para Games, Beach Games, Water Sports Festival, and Tribal Games – Specialized editions that broaden participation to diverse sporting disciplines and regions.
- Centres of Excellence – Over 1,000 state‑level centres have been established across 36 states and union territories, with more than 30 designated as KISCEs offering advanced training facilities.
Administration
The programme is administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with state governments. It consolidates earlier initiatives such as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and the National Sports Talent Search Scheme.
Impact
Since its inception, Khelo India has expanded sporting infrastructure, increased participation at school and university levels, and contributed to India’s improved performance in international competitions. The inclusion of traditional games aims to preserve cultural heritage while promoting athletic development.
References
- Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports – Operational Guidelines on Khelo India (May 2016).
- Economic Times article on the programme’s launch (16 March 2017).
- Official Khelo India website (kheloindia.gov.in).