Lok Sabha Question No. 2558 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-02
Subject: Sports Competitions under Khelo India Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, KIRTI (JHA) AZAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2558 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2018

Sports Competitions under Khelo India Scheme

†2558. DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL: SHRI KIRTI AZAD:

SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  started  conducting  national  level sports competitions under the Khelo India Scheme;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the  criteria  adopted  by  the  Government in  the selection of sports talent  particularly  from  the  rural  areas  for  the  said  national  level competitions and providing training to them  for participating in International sports competitions; and
- (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure transparency and unbiased selection process of sports talents in the country?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS {COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (RETD.)}

(a) & (b) Under the vertical of Annual Sports Competitions of Khelo India Scheme the 1st edition Khelo India School Games were organized in  New  Delhi,  from  31 st   January  2018  to  8 th   February  2018  with  the participation of 3507 Athletes from 28 States and 7 UTs.

(c) & (d) The  Scheme  of  Khelo  India  caters  to  the  entire  country, including  rural  areas.  Entries  of  sportspersons,  including  from  rural areas,  for  participation  in  the  1 st   Khelo  India  School  Games,  were accepted on the basis of their performance in competitions, organized by  the  School  Games  Federation  of  India  (SGFI),  concerned  National Sports  Federations,  etc. In  order  to  ensure  transparency  in  the selection of  sporting  talents  for  further  grooming  under  a  Long  Term Athlete  Development  Programme  (LTAD),  the  guidelines  for  talent identification under the Khelo India Scheme  provide for talent identification through a three tier structure, comprising of the Talent Identification &  Development  Committee  (TIDC) for each Sports discipline,  the  Talent  Screening  Committee  (TSC),  and  the  High Powered Committee (HPC).

Under the Khelo India Scheme, talent has been identified in the following manner:

- i. Outstanding participants and Medal winners of the 1st Khelo India School Games 2018 (563)
- ii. Through Open Selection Trials/Assessment camps by the Talent Identification and Development Committee (TIDC) / Talent Screening Committee (TSC)
- iii. During National Championships and from the results of national championships  by  the  Talent  Identification  and  Development Committee (TIDC)/Talent Screening Committee (TSC)
- iv. The identified athletes have been subjected to the Age Verification Test and those who have cleared the age verification test  have  finally  been  selected  for  as  Khelo  India  Talent  (KIT). 734 such sportspersons have been selected as on date.

The TIDC / TSC members  are present for all the talent identification  process  along  with  a  representative  of  the  concerned NSFs (who is a member of the TIDC). The list of identified athletes are submitted  to  the  TIDC  and  the  final  list  of  those  who  have  been selected and have cleared age verification test is put up to the High Power Committee for final approval/selection.

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