New Delhi: In a move aimed at bolstering the country’s sporting landscape and recognising the achievements of its athletes, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced on Wednesday that medal winners of the Khelo India Games will now be eligible to apply for government jobs.
Thakur, in a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), hailed the decision as a “groundbreaking step” towards supporting athletes and realizing the vision of making India a sporting powerhouse.
“This groundbreaking step now extends eligibility to medal winners from the Khelo India Games — Youth, University, Para, and Winter Games — to be eligible for government jobs. Additionally, games and events have been clearly defined to ensure inclusivity across various sports. These revised rules mark a significant stride in supporting our athletes in making Bharat a sporting superpower,” Thakur stated.
Under the new guidelines, individuals excelling in events such as the Khelo India Youth Games (for participants aged 18 and above), Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games, and Khelo India University Games will qualify for government employment opportunities. Moreover, achievers in the School Games Federation of India events will also maintain their eligibility for such positions.
One of the notable inclusions in the updated guidelines is the establishment of clear criteria for national and international chess competitions, ensuring equitable opportunities for chess enthusiasts. Additionally, individuals who have represented the nation or a state in either international or national events, or demonstrated success in junior national tournaments, will be eligible for employment.
The Khelo India Games, initiated in 2018 as part of the Narendra Modi government’s endeavor to revive the sports culture at the grassroots level, have now taken a step further in incentivizing sporting excellence.
To ensure a smooth process for athletes to avail benefits, the roster of authorized entities empowered to issue certificates validating the eligibility of sportspersons for recruitment has been revised. Now, secretaries of National Sports Federations (for international events), secretaries of state associations (for national competitions), and deans or sports officers of universities (for inter-university tournaments), among others, will have the authority to issue such certificates.
This move is expected to not only incentivize participation in sports at various levels but also provide a much-needed boost to the aspirations of young athletes across the country, aligning with the government’s vision of nurturing a robust sporting ecosystem in India.
(With agency inputs)
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