Why in the News
The first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) will be held from March 25 to April 6, 2026 in Chhattisgarh, announced by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Details
- Host Cities: Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja
- Participants: Tribal athletes from most States and Union Territories of India.
Sports in the Games
- Medal Sports (7): Athletics, Football, Hockey, Weightlifting, Archery, Swimming, and Wrestling.
- Demonstration Sports: Mallakhamb and Kabaddi
Organising Bodies
- Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Sports Authority of India
- Indian Olympic Association
- National Sports Federations and the Chhattisgarh State Organising Committee.
Mascot
- “Morveer”
- Derived from “Mor” (mine/our) and “Veer” (brave) in Chhattisgarhi.
- Symbolises pride, courage and identity of tribal communities.
Note: A mascot is a person, animal, or object adopted by a group—such as a sports team, school, or brand—to represent them, foster a public identity, and bring good luck.
Significance
- First national sports event dedicated exclusively to tribal athletes.
- Aims to identify and nurture talent from tribal regions.
- Strengthens grassroots sports under the Khelo India Scheme.
Prelims Pointers
- Khelo India Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2018.
- The Khelo India Games were declared an “Event of National Importance” in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals Act, 2007.
| [2023] Consider the following statements in respect of the 44th Chess Olympiad, 2022: It was the first time that Chess Olympiad was held in India. The official mascot was named ‘Thambi’. The trophy for the winning team in the open section is the Vera Menchik Cup. The trophy for the winning team in the women’s section is the Hamilton-Russell Cup. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four |
