Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur announced on Wednesday that as per the revised criteria, all the medal winners in all Khelo India competitions are now eligible for government jobs.
Thakur said the move is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision of a robust sports ecosystem, nurturing talent at grassroots level and turning sports into a lucrative and viable career option."
He mentioned that the Department of Personnel and training, in collaboration with the Sports Ministry, has implemented "forward-looking changes to the eligibility standards for athletes pursuing employment in the government."
"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," Thakur said in his post on X.
"These revised rules mark a significant stride in supporting our athletes in making Bharat a sporting superpower," he added.
Khelo India Games were first organised in 2018 as part of the Modi government's initiative to revitalise sports culture at the grassroots level.
Under the revamped regulations, individuals who excel 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 now qualify for government employment opportunities.
Furthermore, achievers in the School Games Federation of India events will also maintain their eligibility for such positions. A notable inclusion in the updated guidelines is the establishment of clear criteria for national and international chess competitions, ensuring equitable opportunities for chess enthusiasts.
Moreover, individuals who have represented the country or a state in international or national competitions, or have shown excellence in junior national tournaments, will qualify for employment. A systematic ranking system based on sporting accomplishments will be utilized to prioritise candidates.
To streamline the process for athletes to avail of benefits, the roster of authorised 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.
In a significant stride, the Khelo India Games have been recognised as events of national significance, joining the ranks of other esteemed tournaments and competitions.
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