Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026:
India is hosting its first national multi-sport event for tribal athletes, Khelo India Tribal Games (25th March – 3rd April 2026) in Chhattisgarh (Raipur, Jagdalpur and Surguja), bringing tribal athletes from across the country onto a national platform.The Games are jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, SAI, IOA, National Sports Federations and the Chhattisgarh government, with international-level technical standards.It aims to integrate tribal talent into mainstream sports by providing exposure, structured competition and pathways for future development.The Games are part of the Khelo India programme, which promotes grassroots participation, talent identification and inclusive expansion of India’s sporting ecosystem.
Mascot: “Morveer” symbolises tribal pride, identity and bravery.The Games feature seven medal sports—athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming and wrestling—along with indigenous sports like kabaddi and mallakhamb, with over 60,000 athletes competing for 338 medals.Athlete selection follows a two-stage process: state/UT trials followed by national-level trials by sports federations, ensuring merit-based participation. A dedicated Talent Identification and Development Committee (TIDC) scouts promising athletes for further training under the Khelo India framework.
