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THE MAKING OF AN OFFICER
KHELO INDIA
NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS
  • Sports is an extremely important component for the overall development of our nation. India, in the last few years has made steady progress in the field of sports. This tremendous potential needs to be showcased at a global platform. It’s time we inspire young talent, give them top-notch infrastructure and training of the highest level. We need to inculcate a strong spirit of participation in sports that enables players to demonstrate their true potential. Only then can India realise its dream of becoming a sports superpower.
  • The importance of sports and fitness in one’s life is invaluable. Playing sports inculcates team spirit, develops strategic & analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking. A fit and healthy individual leads to an equally healthy society and strong nation.
  • The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting nation.
What is the Khelo India Programme?
  • About
  • Khelo India, which translates to ‘Let’s play India’, was proposed by the government of India in 2017 to revive India’s sporting culture by engaging with children at the grassroots level.
  • The initiative also focused on building better sporting infrastructure and academies across the country for various sports
  • It is implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
  • Competitions Under Khelo India
  • Under this movement, the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) and the Khelo India Winter Games were set up as annual national sports competitions where youngsters, representing their states and universities, respectively, showcased their skills and competed for medals.
  • Significance
  • Reviving Traditional Sports:
  • Khelo India has played a crucial role in restoring the prestige of India's traditional sports.
  • The government has provided scholarships to promote and encourage indigenous sports such as Gatka, Mallakhamb, Thang-ta,and Yogasan. This initiative has helped preserve and popularise these traditional sports among the youth.
  • Integration of Sports in Education:
  • Khelo India aligns with the proposal of the National Educational Policy 2020 to incorporate sports as a subject within the curriculum and the construction of the country’s first National Sports University will further strengthen the cause.
  • Empowering Women Athletes:
  • Khelo India has taken significant steps towards promoting women's participation in sports through initiatives like the Khelo India Women's League.
  • Organised in several cities, this league has witnessed the active participation of approximately 23,000 women athletes.
  • Centres of Excellence:
  • Khelo India also supports the establishment of state-of-the-art sports facilities across India, called Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE).
  • These centres aim to provide basic facilities for sportspersons with potential and cater to three sporting disciplines each.
  • Some of the KISCEs are:
    o Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl

    o Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar

    o Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal
  • To accomplish the above objectives, Khelo India programme has been divided into 12 verticals:
  • Play field development
  • Community coaching development
  • Support to National, regional, state sports academics
  • Physical fitness of school children
  • Promotion of sports amongst people with disabilities
  • Sports for women
  • State-level Khelo India Centres
  • Annual sports competition
  • Sports for peace and development
  • Talent search and development
  • Utilisation and creation or upgradation of sports infrastructure
  • Promotion of rural and indigenous or tribal games
Objectives Of the Khelo India Programme
  • Objectives Of the Khelo India Programme
  • The main objectives of the Khelo India Programme launched by the central government are:
  • The Khelo India Programme intends to promote "Sports for Excellence" as well as "Sports for All".
  • Mass youth participation in annual sports competitions through a structured competition
  • Identification of sports talent in individuals and 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.
  • Creation of sports infrastructure at district, mofussil, tehsil, state levels, etc.
  • Creation and Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure
  • Sports Competitions and Talent Development
  • Khelo India Centres and Sports Academies
  • Fit India Movement
  • Promotion of Inclusiveness through Sports
  • It works to promote “Sports for All” and “Sports for Excellence”.
  • It aims at creating an active nation with healthy citizens.
Creating Champions
  • Khelo India aims to identify talented athletes, establish and enhance sports infrastructure at the block, district, and state levels, and encourage widespread participation of young individuals in annual sports competitions through well-planned tournaments.
  • The monitoring and development of potential sportspersons are facilitated by existing sports institutions, as well as newly established ones by both state and central governments or through public private partnerships.
  • Identifying sports potential at an early stage is invaluable as it allows for the training of children with the greatest aptitude for a specific sport from a young age.
  • For this purpose, the Khelo India Mobile App is utilised to assess over 2.3 million school-aged children, ranging from 5 to 18 years old. Moreover, more than 66,000 physical education instructors have been trained to evaluate the athletic abilities of children.
  • The most crucial aspect of identifying talent correctly lies in creating a competent pool of skilled coaches at the grassroots level. Consequently, efforts have been made to enhance the skill sets of physical education teachers and equip them with knowledge as community coaches, following international best practices.
  • Through the Khelo India Scheme, over 30,000 physical education instructors have been trained as community coaches.
Post-COVID Recovery Initiatives
  • The COVID-19 pandemic exerted a significant impact on athletic endeavors in India, as the outbreak of the virus compelled the cancellation or postponement of the majority of events and competitions.
  • The Indian sports industry suffered substantial financial losses due to these event cancellations, with estimates suggesting that the epidemic could cost the sector up to ₹ 90 billion. Nevertheless, in the face of this crisis, the Indian sports industry displayed resilience and gradually commenced its recovery in the latter half of 2020.
  • Moreover, in July 2020, the government unveiled the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) initiative, aiming to provide top-tier training and coaching facilities to young athletes in the nation. This plan has facilitated the enhancement of the country's training infrastructure.
  • Significant facilities developed under the Khelo India program involve allocating monthly financial assistance to chosen athletes, as well as providing support for coaching, training, equipment, diet, and nutrition. Specialised sports academies have been established to focus on Olympic achievements.
  • Furthermore, in collaboration with National Sports Federations, assistance has been extended to 500 private academies through the Khelo India Plan, ensuring that athletes have access to sports facilities nationwide and can train at convenient locations.
  • The number of sports infrastructure projects has seen a remarkable surge, rising sharply. Some noteworthy infrastructure developments include the refurbishment and improvement of Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium for the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. The stadium currently stands as a state-of-the-art sports venue with cutting-edge facilities. Likewise, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi underwent renovations to meet global standards in preparation for the 2019 South Asian Games. It now serves as a multi-sport complex, housing facilities for athletics, football, and various other sports.
  • Furthermore, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has established multiple training centers across the country, offering young athletes access to world-class training amenities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums, and sports science laboratories.
Challenges And Issues
  • There is a dearth of supporting infrastructure.
  • Absence of encouragement to young people to participate in sports.
  • Lack of organized system of talent search.
  • Gender bias against girls and women.
  • Lack of remuneration and job security.
  • Administrative issues due to lack of codification of rules and lack of transparency.
Benefits Of Khelo India Programme
  • Khelo India scheme strengthens and revamps the sports culture of India at the grassroots level.
  • Khelo India Programme promotes "sports for all" and "sports for excellence".
  • Sporting culture is developed by identifying, developing and encouraging talent in sports discipline.
  • Athletes who got selected are given scholarships of ₹ 5 lakhs for 8 consecutive years.
  • This scheme encourages schools and colleges to organize sports events and competitions of a high standard.
  • It advertises 20 universities across the nation as a centre for athletic achievement.
  • The program facilitates deprived and poor youth to engage in sports rather than in unproductive work.
  • The scheme covers around 200 million children between 10 to 18 years under a massive National Physical Fitness Drive.
Employment Benefits to Khelo India Participants
  • While the primary objective of the Khelo India program is to develop sporting prowess, it can also have an indirect impact on participants' career prospects.
  • Engaging in the program enhances their likelihood of securing positions in the armed forces, securing scholarships or sponsorships, and advancing their education and life skills.
  • Moreover, certain entities within the sports and fitness industry offer additional advantages for employment opportunities. A notable illustration is the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which considers participation in the Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games as desirable qualifications for various positions.
Effect of Khelo India Programme
  • The Khelo India Programme has a wide-ranging impact on various aspects of the sports environment in India, including facilities, coaching, recognition programmes, effective functioning, sports economics, and competitive structure.
  • The Khelo India Scheme has established a framework for fostering a sporting culture in India by providing annual competition platforms and creating sports infrastructure nationwide.
  • The Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games, and Khelo India University Games provide a platform for young athletes in the under 17 and 18 age categories to compete at the national level. Through these games, young athletes can showcase their skills and talent and compete with other athletes from different parts of the country.
  • The scheme provides financial assistance for developing sports infrastructure, such as playgrounds, stadiums, and training facilities.
  • The Khelo India Programme has implemented specific programmes to support and empower women in sports, giving them equal opportunities to showcase their talent and excel in their chosen sport.
  • The Khelo India Programme provides various benefits to athletes, including out-of-pocket allowances and access to training resources for indigenous sports in elite facilities
  • Further, improved training facilities and cash assistance provided to divyangs or physically challenged people have contributed to a more inclusive and supportive environment for these athletes.
  • The Khelo India Programme also aims to improve coaching standards by providing training to coaches at various levels.
Impact of Khelo India Scheme
  • A comprehensive mechanism was created through Khelo India to build a sporting culture by identifying and developing talent by providing annual competitive platforms, infrastructure across the country.
  • Through the annual Khelo India Youth Games and University Games, athletes of age groups of U17 and U21 have got a chance to showcase their sporting talent annually, at the national level.
  • The Khelo India MobileApp launched by Hon’ble PM in 2019 has assessed the fitness parameters of more than 23 lakh school children, thus identifying future sporting talent from the age of 5 years.
  • Special scheme to promote indigenous games and athletes. Athletes of indigenous games are given Out-of-Pocket Allowance (OPA), training facilities in top-end centres.
  • Specific schemes were put in place to empower women to make a mark in sports, as well as strengthened support to divyangs in the form of financial grants, better training facilities.
Other Schemes For Promoting Sports
  • National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR)
  • It aims to support high-level research, education, and innovation with respect to the high performance of elite athletes.
  • The scheme has two components: One is setting up of NCSSR and the other is focused on funding the creation of Sports Sciences Departments in Six Universities and Sports Medicine Departments in Six Medical Colleges.
  • Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
  • Its goal is to find, develop, and get ready future medal contenders for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In accordance with this program, athletes and sportspeople will receive specialized instruction from renowned coaches at cutting-edge sports facilities and institutions.
  • A similar program called Junior TOPS, which targets kids as young as 10 to 12 years old and aims to create Olympic champions in 2028, was also introduced by the government in 2020.
  • National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
  • It was founded in November 1998 in accordance with the Charitable Endowments Act of 1890 in order to promote sports and games across the nation.
India’s Progression In Sports
  • The nation has been taking home more medals from international competitions.
  • Government backing for the sport has grown, and that must be acknowledged. For the purpose of promoting India’s sports industry, the government has started a number of projects.
  • The sport now has more private sector participation. Additionally, the expansion of private academies that are involved in sport development at different levels is strengthening the resources accessible to our athletes.
  • Businesses have stepped up to sponsor talented athletes individually, displaying a level of dedication that was previously lacking.
Conclusion
  • Khelo India Programme is related to the promotion of sports development. It is a central sector scheme. India is taking essential steps in promoting sports and athletes; therefore, it's time to encourage youthful talent and provide them with the best facilities and training available.
  • Sports participation must be strongly encouraged in order for players to reach their full potential; only then can India fulfil its dream of becoming a sports superpower-dominated country.
  • There are many untapped potentials in Indian sports that haven’t yet been realised.
  • However, now is the ideal time to reconfirm our commitment, alter the way we view sports, and transform India’s sports landscape.
Khelo India programme is essential for modification of the athlete and for the development of sports culture of India. And it also help full for the athlete for his/her all round development- mentally and physically.