NEW DELHI: Sports minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said that the Khelo India medal winners will now be eligible to apply for government jobs.
“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 said on X, formerly Twitter.
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.
Plus, 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. 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.
As a part of the Narendra Modi government’s initiative to revitalise sports culture at the grassroots level, the Khelo India Games were first started in 2018.
A structured hierarchy based on sporting achievements will be adhered to for prioritising candidates.
To streamline the process for athletes to avail 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.
Agencies

Agencies