Press Information Bureau

As the Paris Olympics draws near, the Government's ambitious Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme is set to get a fresh boost under the leadership of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. Hon. Minister will inaugurate Phase 2 of the initiative in New Delhi on 19 July 2024. Earlier, the first phase of KIRTI was launched in Chandigarh on March 12 this year.

 

About KIRTI

KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) aims to develop an integrated talent identification architecture based on modern ICT tools and global best practices. It seeks to streamline the process of grassroots talent identification on a single platform. The project adopts an athlete-centric approach, ensuring that every step of the talent identification process is broad-based and accessible.

KIRTI is set to revolutionize the landscape of Indian sports by focusing on two primary objectives:

5. Identifying sports talent from across the nation.
5. Using sports to combat drug addiction and excessive gadget use among school children aged 9 to 18.

 Nationwide Launch and Goals

The programme's goal is to achieve 20 lakh assessments in the FY 2024-25 by onboarding all states and treating districts as units of assessment. The aim is to create a pool of talent capable of winning medals at global competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games.

 KIRTI Phase I

The KIRTI programme made a robust debut across the nation. In the first phase, out of 3,62,683 registrations across 70 centres, close to 51,000 assessments were conducted in 28 states and Union Territories. Maharashtra and Haryana, two states with a strong history in Khelo India meets, had the maximum number of assessments—9168 and 4820, respectively. Assam followed with 4703 assessments.

Evaluations of aspiring athletes were conducted in 11 disciplines: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Football, Hockey, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling. The highest number of assessments were in athletics (13,804) and football (13,483).

 Ambition and Accessibility

A scouting and training programme of this magnitude is unprecedented in India. The programme aligns with the nation's aspiration to become a top 10 sports nation by 2036 and among the top five by 2047.

 KIRTI aims to reach every block in the country, connecting with children who aspire to play sports but lack guidance. Prospective candidates are encouraged to register through the MyBharat portal.

KIRTI boasts a transparent selection methodology leveraging Information Technology. Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence are utilized to predict the sporting potential of aspiring athletes.

 Conclusion

KIRTI stands as a testament to India’s commitment to nurturing sports talent and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle among its youth. The programme promises to bridge the gap between dreams and reality for aspiring young athletes across the nation, contributing to India's goal of becoming a global sports powerhouse.

References

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2034000

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2013801

https://kheloindia.gov.in/index.html

Annual Report: https://yas.gov.in/dashboards

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Santosh Kumar/Sarla Meena/ Ritu Kataria /Madiha Iqbal

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