Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Khelo India Programme
"India's flagship grassroots sports development scheme providing talent identification, training, and infrastructure at youth and university levels"
The Khelo India Programme is the Government of India's flagship sports development initiative launched in 2018 by merging three existing schemes — Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, and National Sports Talent Contest. It aims to mainstream sports culture from the grassroots level by identifying talented athletes, providing them annual scholarships, and building sports infrastructure across India.
Tested in Prelims (scheme details, components) and relevant for GS2 Mains (governance, youth policy). The 2026 addition of the Khelo India Tribal Games makes this a live topic connecting sports policy with tribal welfare.
- 1 Launched: 2018 by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
- 2 Merged: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan + Urban Sports Infrastructure + National Sports Talent Contest
- 3 Scholarship: Rs 5 lakh per annum for 8 years per identified athlete
- 4 Components: Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), University Games (KIUG), Winter Games, Para Games, Tribal Games (2026)
- 5 KIYG: athletes aged 17 and below
- 6 KIUG: university-level athletes
- 7 Khelo India Tribal Games: added in 2026, first edition in Chhattisgarh
- 8 Implementing agency: Sports Authority of India (SAI)
- 9 12 Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) established across India
The first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Chhattisgarh brought together 2,300+ tribal athletes in 9 sports disciplines, expanding the programme's reach to India's most underserved sporting communities.