The Government of India has declared that athletes who win medals at the Khelo India Games will soon be eligible for government jobs, as part of an initiative to promote sports in India. Anurag Thakur, the Union Minister for Information & Broadcast and Youth Affairs & Sports, shared this announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on March 6 (Wednesday).
Anurag Thakur expressed in the message on X that in alignment with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi's vision of fostering a robust sports ecosystem and transforming sports into a viable career choice, Khelo India athletes will now qualify for government jobs. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), in consultation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has introduced progressive revisions to eligibility criteria for government positions, extending this benefit to sports personalities seeking government employment.
Here's What Anurag Thakur Shared
He added that the groundbreaking move includes medal winners from Khelo India Games—Youth, University, Para, and Winter Games—expanding opportunities for athletes across various sports and enhancing India's position as a sporting powerhouse.
What Are Khelo India Games?
The Khelo India Games stand as a flagship government initiative aimed at promoting sports and showcasing the increasing talent of young athletes in India. Under this program, the government organises three major events—the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), the Khelo India University Games (KIUG), and the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG).
On January 31, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Khelo India School Games during the opening ceremony, which was based on the Guru-shishya tradition and held at the Indira Gandhi Arena in Delhi. Following the involvement of the Indian Olympic Association in September 2018, the event was renamed the Khelo India Youth Games starting from the 2019 edition. The second edition of the games commenced at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune. The event was inaugurated by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis.