The Games will feature seven medal sports — athletics, football, field hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling. Two demonstration sports, Mallakhamb and Kabaddi, will also be included.
Khelo India Tribal Games to be held from March 26 to April 6 in Chhattisgarh: Mandaviya/ Credit: SAI Media
The inaugural edition of the Khelo India Tribal Games is scheduled to take place from March 25 to April 6, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Friday. The Games will be held across three cities in the state of Chhattisgarh – Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja.
The Games will feature seven medal sports — athletics, football, field hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming, and wrestling. Two demonstration sports, Mallakhamb and Kabaddi, will also be included. Most states and union territories across India are expected to be represented at the event.
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“The Khelo India Tribal Games are part of our expanding footprint that offers an opportunity to every young person who wants to play a sport. It is part of Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2024, and sports has a massive role to play in that journey,” Mandaviya said.
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The logo, theme song, and mascot of the first-ever Khelo India Tribal Games were unveiled at the Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium in Bilaspur on December 23. The ceremony was attended by Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao.
Mandaviya also stressed that the Games will help strengthen the talent pool emerging from tribal regions.
“Tapping talent from tribal regions is key, and continuously expanding our athlete base is the need of the hour. We are ensuring that talented youngsters from tribal communities are identified early, supported systematically, and integrated into the national sports framework,” he added.
The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Indian Olympic Association, National Sports Federations, and the Chhattisgarh state organising committee. The technical standards for the Games will be benchmarked against international competitions.
The official mascot, Morveer, draws inspiration from Chhattisgarh’s cultural ethos. The name combines two words – ‘Mor’, meaning ‘mine’ or ‘our own’ in Chhattisgarhi, and ‘Veer’, symbolising courage and valour.
Chhattisgarh will become the first state to host this landmark national event dedicated exclusively to tribal athletes, marking a significant step in India’s sporting journey towards tribal empowerment and grassroots inclusion.
The Khelo India Tribal Games are part of the Khelo India Scheme, a flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aimed at promoting mass participation and sporting excellence. The Khelo India Games were declared an “Event of National Importance” in 2020 under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, 2007.
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