Page 34 - NIS English 16-31 Aug, 2026

SPORTS | National Sports Day and Fit India

Pillar-3

Sports for Social Development

The Central Government is working to promote participation among
women, tribal communities, and persons with disabilities; encourage
indigenous and traditional sports; and establish sports as a viable
career option.
2,600+ three indigenous sports— The Khelo
In the last five years,
India Mission,

Asmita Leagues Yogasana, Kho-Kho, and announced in the
(women’s leagues) have Kabaddi—have been 2026-27
been organized under included in national-level
Khelo India, with the sports competitions. Union Budget, will
participation of more Mallakhamb, Thang-Ta, bring about a major
than 3 lakh female Kalaripayattu, Gatka, transformation in
athletes across 34 and Yogasana have been the country’s sports
sports disciplines. featured in multiple ecosystem.
editions of the Khelo India
Youth Games and Khelo
India University Games.

Pillar-4 Pillar-5

Sports as a Mass Movement Integration with Education (NEP 2020)

The National Sports Policy emphasizes physical literacy from
Efforts to promote public participation in sports and early childhood. This aligns with the National Education Policy
a culture of fitness through nationwide campaigns (NEP) 2020, which treats sports as an integral subject to foster
and community-based programs have intensified in lifelong fitness and well-being.
recent years. Access to sports facilities for all is being
actively encouraged. n Under NEP 2020, sports and physical
n Sansad Khel Mahotsavs are being organized education have been made an integral
part of the education system. Students
at the Lok Sabha constituency level. will now have opportunities to excel

n Over 4.40 lakh schools are registered under in both sports and academics.
the 'Fit India' campaign. n Specialized coursework

n Events such as 'Sunday on Cycle', 'Fit India is being developed for
Swachhata Freedom Run', athletes and students at
and 'Fit India Carnival' the academic level.
are organized throughout n For the first time, a sports
the year under the Fit quota system has been
India campaign. introduced in

n The Fit India mobile prestigious
app, which tracks fitness institutions
parameters, has recorded like the IITs.
over 1.3 million downloads.

32 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || Aug 16-31, 2026