Khelo India Scheme- objectives, verticals & achievements

Khelo India Scheme was launched in the year 2018 to bring forward the sports culture in India at a grass root level. Its objective is to improve the sports culture right from its very foundation for all sports prominent in India and to establish it as a sporting nation. The development of sports is the main objective of the Khelo India Scheme.

It aims at mainstreaming sports as a tool for national, economic, community, and individual development. The Union Cabinet approved the revamped ‘Khelo India’ program by consolidating the National Sports Talent Search System Programme, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (formerly called the Yuva Krida and Khel Abhiyan.

Let us understand a bit more about this scheme in this article

Objectives of the Khelo India Scheme

Some of the main objectives of the Khelo India scheme include the following:-

1. Mass youth participation in annual sports competitions through a structured competition

2. Identification of sports talent

3. Nurturing and guidance of the talent through a new set of existing sports academies either by the Central Government, state government, or in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

5. Creation of sports infrastructure at district, mofussil, tehsil, state levels, etc.

Verticals of the Khelo India Scheme

The different verticals of the Khelo India scheme include the following:-

1. Playfield development

2. Community coaching development

3. Support to National, regional, and state sports academics

4. Physical fitness of school children

5. Promotion of sports amongst people with disabilities

6. Sports for women

7. State-level Khelo India Centers

8. Annual sports competition

9. Sports for peace and development

10. Talent search and development

11. Utilization and creation or up gradation of sports infrastructure

12. Promotion of rural and indigenous or tribal games

Assistance under Khelo India Scheme

Talented players identified under the Khelo India scheme in priority sports disciplines at different levels by the high-powered committee are provided annual financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh per annum for eight years.

Khelo India School Games

The Khelo India School Games (KISG), a part of the Khelo India scheme, was held from 31 January to 8 February 2018 in New Delhi. Under-17 athletes were invited to participate across 16 disciplines: Archery, Badminton, Athletics, Basketball, Football, Boxing, Gymnastics, Judo, Hockey, Kabaddi, Shooting, Kho-Kho, Volleyball, Swimming, Wrestling, and Weightlifting.

Achievements of the Khelo India Scheme

1. 133 new sports infrastructure projects were approved across 27 states/UT at a total sanctioned cost of Rs.826 crore.

2. First Khelo India School Games (KISG) was conducted with the participation of 3,507 athletes.

3. The second edition of the games, i.e. Khelo India Youth Games Maharashtra, 2019, was successfully conducted with the participation of 5,925 athletes.

4. 2,437 sporting talents across 20 sports disciplines are selected under the talent search and development vertical.

5. A total of 99 academies (State government, Central Government, and private) are accredited for training Khelo India Athletes (KIAs).

6. Khelo India mobile application was launched to enable the general public to obtain information and ease of access to the different aspects of the game, available play fields across India, or mapping the fitness parameters of young school children.

7. The first national-level Training of Trainer (TOTs) program for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) teachers was held and 198 physical education teachers trained are certified as master trainers.

8. A total of 30 regional or state-level TOTs have been conducted, where 1,547 certified regional trainers were trained.

9. Under the ‘Physical fitness of school children' component, 1,168 schools and 23,947 assessors are registered. 2,70,821 student profiles have been created for physical fitness assessment in the Khelo India Mobile App, out of which 92,583 assessments have been made.

10. Support of Rs.3 crore was given to the Boxing Federation of India to conduct the AIBA Women’s Boxing Championship, 2018, held in New Delhi from 15-24 November 2018.

11. 2,124 trainees are covered under 18 state-level Khelo India centers of the Sports Authority of India.

FAQS

1. What are the eligibility criteria to participate in the games?

An athlete born on or after 1st January 2004 is eligible to participate in Khelo India Youth Games Madhya Pradesh 2022.

2. How to participate in the Khelo India games?

State/UTs & National Sports Federations (NSF) will send the selected list of athletes to SAI for the games. Athletes have to contact their States Sports Department & National Sports Federations (NSF) to participate in Khelo India Youth Games.