Partially Donehigh confidenceSports

Include more traditional sports under Khelo India

Bharatiya Janata Party · Lok Sabha General Election 2024

Last updated 8 Jul 2026

We will include more traditional sports under the Khelo India Scheme.

From the Bharatiya Janata Party manifestoView Manifestop.61

Our Assessment

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The promise was to include more traditional sports under the Khelo India Scheme. Official evidence confirms that Khelo India has a dedicated Promotion of rural and indigenous or tribal games sub-component, and that Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam have been identified for promotion and are part of annually organised Khelo India University or Youth Games. The government also stated that grants are sanctioned under this component for infrastructure development, equipment support, appointment of coaches, training of coaches and scholarships to identified athletes. Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 further created a national platform for tribal athletes and included demonstration events of indigenous sporting traditions. However, approved-source evidence does not clearly show a newly expanded list of traditional sports after the manifesto beyond the already identified disciplines, so the verdict remains partial rather than fulfilled. Budget: Khelo India provides grants under the rural and indigenous or tribal games component, but no separate published allocation only for adding new traditional sports was found.

Promise Timeline

27 Mar 2026

PIB described the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games as a national platform with medal sports and demonstration events of indigenous sporting traditions.

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6 Mar 2026

PIB announced Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, including demonstration sports such as Mallakhamb and Kabaddi.

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2 Dec 2024

Government told Lok Sabha that Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Thang-Ta, Yogasana and Silambam had been identified for promotion under the Khelo India traditional games component.

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