Khelo India Youth Games: Editions, Hosts, Medal Tally and the Programme
Khelo India Youth Games explained: every edition and host from 2018 to the Telangana 2026 games, medal tallies, the Khelo India programme, KIRTI, and UPSC relevance.
The 6th edition of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG 2024) was hosted by Tamil Nadu from 19 to 31 January 2024, with events spread across four cities — Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, and Madurai. The games featured 27 sports disciplines including the traditional Tamil martial art "Silambam" as a demonstration sport, and saw participation of more than 6,000 athletes (under-18) from all states and UTs. Maharashtra topped the medal tally for the fourth consecutive edition, continuing its dominance in the country's premier grassroots sports movement.
The Khelo India Youth Games are the flagship school-level component of the broader Khelo India programme, launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2018 to revive India's sporting culture and prepare a pipeline for the 2036 Olympic bid.
KIYG 2024 at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Edition | 6th |
| Host state | Tamil Nadu |
| Host cities | Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai |
| Dates | 19 – 31 January 2024 |
| Mascot | "Veera Mangai" (inspired by Rani Velu Nachiyar) |
| Theme song | "Nanba Vaa" |
| Sports disciplines | 27 (including 1 traditional — Silambam) |
| Athletes | ~6,000+ |
| Age category | Under-18 (born on/after 1 Jan 2007) |
| Participating teams | 36 (all states & UTs) |
| Main venue | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai |
| Medal tally topper | Maharashtra |
Sports Disciplines Featured
KIYG 2024 featured 27 sports — the most in any edition so far. Key disciplines:
Traditional/indigenous:
- Silambam (Tamil martial art — first time in KIYG)
- Kabaddi
- Kho-kho
- Mallakhamb
- Yogasana
- Gatka
- Thang-ta
- Kalaripayattu (demonstration)
Olympic / international:
- Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling (Track/Road), Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling
Other disciplines: Rugby 7s, Netball
The inclusion of Silambam was a landmark — signalling the Union government's intent to mainstream indigenous sports alongside Olympic disciplines.
Medal Tally (Top 10)
| Rank | State | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maharashtra | 58 | 47 | 53 | 158 |
| 2 | Tamil Nadu (host) | 38 | 21 | 39 | 98 |
| 3 | Haryana | 36 | 36 | 43 | 115 |
| 4 | Karnataka | 25 | 22 | 33 | 80 |
| 5 | Delhi | 24 | 30 | 45 | 99 |
| 6 | Madhya Pradesh | 16 | 18 | 27 | 61 |
| 7 | Uttar Pradesh | 15 | 16 | 22 | 53 |
| 8 | Rajasthan | 14 | 11 | 19 | 44 |
| 9 | Kerala | 12 | 14 | 24 | 50 |
| 10 | Punjab | 11 | 17 | 22 | 50 |
Maharashtra has topped every edition since KIYG 2019 (Pune).
The Khelo India Programme — The Parent Scheme
Khelo India is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2017–18 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with three stated objectives:
- Mass participation — revive a sporting culture at school and college levels
- Excellence — create an Olympic-ready athlete pipeline
- Infrastructure — build world-class sports infrastructure across India
Pillars of Khelo India
| Pillar | Description |
|---|---|
| Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) | U-18 school-level annual multi-sport event |
| Khelo India University Games (KIUG) | University-level multi-sport competition |
| Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) | Winter sports — held mostly in J&K and Ladakh |
| Khelo India Para Games | For athletes with disabilities (launched 2023) |
| Khelo India Talent Identification | Selection of 1,000 athletes per year |
| Khelo India Centres (KICs) | Grassroots training centres at district level |
| Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAs) | Private & public academies recognised for training |
| KIRTI | Khelo India Rising Talent Identification — school-level scouting |
Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI)
Launched in March 2024, KIRTI is an AI-enabled talent identification programme targeting students aged 9 to 18 across India. Phase 1 screened over 50,000 children across 20+ sports. It uses:
- Standardised fitness and skill tests (e.g., sprint, sit-and-reach, agility)
- AI-based video analytics of physical performance
- Data integration with school and state sports departments
- Selection into Khelo India training centres with a monthly Rs. 10,000 stipend for identified talent
Budget and Financial Commitment
- Khelo India programme outlay (2024–25): ~Rs. 900 crore
- KIYG 2024 estimated event cost: ~Rs. 120 crore (state + Centre)
- Stipend for Khelo India athletes: Rs. 6.28 lakh per year (Rs. 5 lakh + allowances) for up to 8 years
- Scholarships: extended to ~3,000 athletes nationwide
- Infrastructure fund: used to upgrade stadiums, astro-turf pitches, swimming pools across states
Previous Editions of KIYG
| Edition | Year | Host | Top State |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2018 | New Delhi | Haryana |
| 2nd | 2019 | Pune (Maharashtra) | Maharashtra |
| 3rd | 2020 | Guwahati (Assam) | Maharashtra |
| 4th | 2021 (held 2022) | Panchkula (Haryana) | Haryana |
| 5th | 2022 (held 2023) | Madhya Pradesh | Maharashtra |
| 6th | 2024 | Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore) | Maharashtra |
| 7th | 2025 | Bihar (Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Begusarai) | Maharashtra |
| 8th | 2026 | Telangana (expected November) | To be decided |
Two editions have run since the Tamil Nadu games. Bihar hosted the 7th edition in May 2025 across Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Begusarai, with more than 5,000 athletes from all 36 states and union territories in 27 sports; Maharashtra topped the table again with 58 gold, and the hosts finished 15th on their best-ever count. Telangana hosts the 8th edition in November 2026. Maharashtra has now won five KIYG titles, three of them consecutively — the single most durable pattern in the event.
(Note: Edition numbering has been slightly adjusted over the years with calendar shifts due to COVID-19.)
Legacy and Infrastructure Impact for Tamil Nadu
The KIYG 2024 delivered long-term infrastructure for Tamil Nadu:
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai — renovated athletics track, LED lighting
- SDAT Aquatic Complex — upgraded pool and diving facility
- Anna University grounds, Trichy — hockey astro-turf
- Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore — cycling track
- Madurai Race Course — multi-sport complex upgrade
- Equipment and turf investment across 4 cities
Tamil Nadu also finished second on the medal tally — a strong host performance.
Significance for India's Sporting Ambitions
2036 Olympic Bid
India has formally bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, with Ahmedabad as the proposed venue. A visible school and university pipeline — anchored in Khelo India — is central to that bid.
Olympic Performance Pipeline
Several Khelo India alumni have represented India at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games — including names from weightlifting, wrestling, archery, and athletics.
Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) and TOPS
Khelo India feeds into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) which supports elite senior athletes. KIRTI → KIYG → KIUG → TOPS forms the four-stage funnel for elite sports in India.
Criticism and Challenges
- Concentration of medals in a handful of states (Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi) — uneven sports infrastructure
- Post-event infrastructure utilisation concerns — stadia underused after games
- Dominance of certain sports in funding
- Limited para-sport integration in the core KIYG format
- Anti-doping and age-fraud vigilance needs to strengthen
- Female participation gaps still visible in certain states and sports
UPSC Relevance
GS2 (Governance / Social Sector): Sports policy, Centre–State coordination, welfare.
GS3 (Indian Economy / Infrastructure): Sports infrastructure, public-private partnership, youth skilling.
GS1 (Society / Culture): Promotion of indigenous sports (Silambam, Mallakhamb, Yogasana, Kalaripayattu).
Key Prelims facts:
- KIYG 2024 = 6th edition
- Host state: Tamil Nadu
- Host cities: Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai
- Dates: 30 January – 12 February 2025
- Mascot: Veera Mangai (Rani Velu Nachiyar)
- Number of sports: 27 (including Silambam — first time)
- Athletes: ~6,000+ (U-18)
- Medal topper: Maharashtra
- Khelo India launched: 2017–18
- Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Pillars: KIYG, KIUG, KIWG, Khelo India Para Games, KIC, KIA, KIRTI
- KIRTI launched: March 2024
- Khelo India athlete stipend: ~Rs. 6.28 lakh/year (up to 8 years)
- Linked scheme at elite level: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
- Khelo India programme outlay (2024–25): ~Rs. 900 crore
- India's Olympic bid: 2036 (Ahmedabad)