Why in news?

• After the first edition of the Khelo India School Games 2017, the second edition, the games has become an initiative of the Central Government, has expanded in its scope, and will allow participants to compete in two categories (under 17 and under 21).
• Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.
• Khelo India School Games are a part of the Khelo India programme.
• It consists of 16 disciplines which includes Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Shooting, Swimming, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

Khelo India programme:

• It will be a Central Sector Scheme (Scheme implemented by the Central Government machinery and 100% funding by the union government).
• It is a Pan India Sports Scholarship scheme covering the 1000 most deserving and talented athletes across the sports discipline, every year.
• It is an unprecedented scheme, a first-ever plan to be implemented for creating a long-term development pathway for athletes.
•  To enable the sportsman to pursue both studies and sports, the program aims at identifying and promoting 20 Universities in the country as centres of sporting distinction.
• To ensure maximum entries for organized sports competitions, the programme encourages the school and colleges to organize programmes of high standards.
• Forming an active population with a healthy lifestyle is also the focus of this programme.
• The aim is to impact the whole of sports ecosystem inclusive of sports economy, competition structure, talent identification, coaching and infrastructure.
• The programme plans to engage youth living in deprived and disturbed areas into sporting activities so that they will be mainstreamed into the process of nation-building and weaned away from disruptive activities.

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