Khelo India Program - Introduction, Brief Description, Latest Updates, Objectives

What is Khelo India programme?

Khelo India Programme is a national scheme/scheme for the development of sports in India. It was launched in the year 2018 in Delhi by the then Sports Minister Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathod. This Programme has been started to improve the sports culture in India. With the objective of mainstreaming sports as a means for national development, economic development, community development and personal development, the Union Cabinet has approved urban sports infrastructure by adding 'Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan' (earlier called Yuva Krida and Khel Abhiyan). The 'Khelo India' Programme was approved by the scheme and the National Sports Talent Search System Programme.

Brief description of Khelo India Programme –

Latest updates related to Khelo India Programme-

• The state government of Haryana will organize Khelo India Youth Games 2021 in February 2022. Earlier the sports show was scheduled to be held from November 21 to December 5, 2021, but due to the possible third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping in mind that the Khelo India Youth Games 2021 is to be held in the under-18 category , it has been moved.
• The Union Budget reduced the allocation for sports to ₹230.78 crore for the financial year 2021-22.
• The Khelo India Youth Games 2021 is scheduled to take place in Panchkula (Haryana) after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics (which is scheduled to begin on 23 July). The government has announced that Haryana will host the fourth edition of the Kahlo India Youth Games.
• The EFC memorandum submitted to the Finance Ministry on 26 March 2021 has estimated an amount of Rs 8750 crore as the financial intent of the new Khelo India scheme (2021-22 to 2025-26). Under the Khelo India scheme, an amount of Rs 657.71 crore has been allocated in the Budget Estimate (B.E.) for the year 2021-22.
• On 26 March 2021, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has decided to extend the Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The Ministry has submitted an Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) memorandum to the Ministry of Finance for the extension/continuation of Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has included in the Khelo India Youth Games 2021 to develop yoga as a competitive sport. The Yogasan game for both men's and women's categories has been included in the Khelo India Youth Games, 2021.

Categories of Khelo India Programme:

The various categories that come under Khelo India Programme are given below-

• Playground development
• Support to National/Regional/State/Sports Academics
• Development of community coaching
• State Level Khelo India Center
• Physical education of school children
• Sports for women
• Annual sports competition
• Promotion of sports among people with disabilities
• Talent Search and Development
• Games for peace and development
• Use and build/upgrade sports infrastructure
• Promotion of rural and indigenous / tribal sports

Eligibility for Khelo India Programme:-

The eligibility criteria for Khelo India Programme is given below:-

• Candidates below the age of 17 years can participate in the Under-17 category.
• Candidates below 21 years of age can participate in Under-21 category.
• Applicants must be between 10 to 18 years of age.
• The applicant should be a citizen of India.
• Selection will be done on the basis of performance in the game.
• After joining the scheme, the studies will continue smoothly.

Which sports are included in the Khelo India Programme?

21 sports are included in this program. These include athletics, archery, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kayaking and canoeing, kabaddi, para sports, rowing, shooting, taekwondo, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. In e-Pathshala, veteran players will showcase their technical skills and interact with young players to help them improve their technical and overall game.

Purpose of Khelo India Programme –

• It will be a Central Sector Scheme (scheme implemented by the machinery of the Central Government and 100% funding by the Central Government). 
• It is a Pan India Sports Scholarship Scheme, which attracts 1000 most deserving and talented athletes in the sports discipline every year.
• The selected athletes will be entitled to a scholarship amount of Rs.5 lakh for eight consecutive years.
• This is an unprecedented scheme, the first to be implemented to create a long-term growth path for athletes.
• To enable sportsmen to pursue both studies and sports, the program aims to identify and promote 20 universities in the country.
• To promote the game, latest user friendly technology will be used. Ex: Geographic Information System (GIS) for information dissemination for sports training through sports infrastructure, a user-friendly website for indigenous sports, a national sports talent search portal and mobile app.
• In order to ensure maximum entries for the organized sports competitions, the Programme encourages schools and colleges to organize programs of high standards.
• Formation of an active population with a healthy lifestyle is also the focus of this Programme. For this purpose, a National Physical Fitness Campaign has been planned where physical fitness of children in the age group of 10-18 years will be checked. In addition, activities will be planned to support their physical fitness.
• It aims to impact the entire sports ecosystem comprising the sports economy, competition structure, talent identification, coaching and infrastructure.
• The Programme is planned to involve the youth living in disadvantaged and disturbed areas in sports activities so that they can be brought into the mainstream in the process of nation-building and away from disruptive activities.

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