During the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya unveiled plans to host the Khelo India Northeast Games annually, rotating between the eight northeastern states. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to harness the region
Khelo India Northeast Games to Be Held Annually Across Eight States
Major Announcement for Regional Sports Promotion
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that the Khelo India Northeast Games will now be held annually, rotating among the eight Northeastern states of India—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura. This initiative aims to tap into the region’s rich sporting potential, promote traditional and indigenous games, and further integrate the Northeast into India’s national sports framework.
Why Is This in the News?
The announcement was made at the Rising Northeast Investors Summit 2025 in New Delhi, where Dr. Mandaviya reiterated the government’s vision to transform the Northeast into a vibrant sporting hub, in line with India’s aspirations to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and Summer Olympics 2036.
Objectives of the Initiative
- Develop a robust sports ecosystem in the Northeast.
- Identify and nurture grassroots talent.
- Promote traditional and indigenous sports from the region.
- Demonstrate the region’s capacity to host large-scale sporting events.
Infrastructure Development and Investment
- In 2021, under the Khelo India scheme, ₹439
crore was sanctioned for 64 infrastructure projects, including:
- Synthetic turfs
- Multipurpose halls
- Swimming pools
- Athlete hostels
Current Status:
- 86 active sports infrastructure projects
- 250 Khelo India Centres (KICs) with 8,000+ athletes
- 8 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs)
- 3 National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) in Guwahati, Itanagar, and Imphal
Tech-Driven Talent Identification
- Launch of the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) portal.
- Citizens can upload videos of emerging athletes.
- SAI talent scouts will review performances and select candidates for induction into KICs or NCOEs based on merit.
Empowering Women in Sports
- Over 13,000 girls from the Northeast participated in the ASMITA League, a flagship program under Khelo India to boost women’s participation in sports.
Past Success: Khelo India Ashtalakshmi 2023
- The Khelo India University Games – Ashtalakshmi were successfully held in 2023.
- Hosted events in athletics, football, archery, and boxing.
- Showcased the Northeast’s organizational capacity and potential as a host for national sports events.
