Khelo India: National Programme for Development of Sports, branded asKhelo India (transl. Play India), aims at improving India's sports culture at the grass-root level through organized talent identification, structured sporting competitions and infrastructure development.[1] It is aGovernment of India programme launched in 2017-18 under the tenure Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and Sports MinistersVijay Goel andRajyavardhan Singh Rathore.[2][3] There has also been an emphasis on includingtraditional Indian games in Khelo India events in order to revive their popularity.[4][5]
Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCE) are sports facilities across India, built upon existing facilities, aiming to provide basic facilities for sportspersons with potential. Each centre will cater to three sporting disciplines.[6] In 36 States andUnion Territories across 679 districts, there are more than 1000 Khelo India centres and in 31 States and Union Territories, around 32 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence have been notified.[7]
In November 2020,Minerva Academy was accredited as one of the centres of KISCE.[8][9][10][11]
Anurag Thakur has officially launched 33 Khelo India centers at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Rajasthan. Additionally, the Sports Minister revealed plans to establish a National Center of Excellence featuring a specialized Sports Science Center inRajasthan. Furthermore, an extra 18 Khelo India Centers will be established, bringing the total count of such centers in the state to 51.[12]
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