Context:
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated the unique Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme amidst much enthusiasm at the Sector 7 sports complex, in Chandigarh
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
About KIRTI Programme
The KIRTI Programme is a nationwide initiative aimed at school children between the ages of nine and 18. Here are the key highlights of the programme:
Objectives:
- Identify talent: The primary objective of the KIRTI Programme is to identify sporting talent from all parts of the country.
- Curbing addiction: Another key objective is to use sports as a means to discourage addiction to drugs and other distractions such as gadgets among school children.
Assessments:
- The programme aims to conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country in a year to identify talented individuals through designated Talent Assessment Centres.
- It seeks to reach out to every block in the country and connect with children interested in sports but lacking opportunities.
Launch and Implementation:
- The KIRTI Programme was launched across 50 centres in India.
- In the initial phase, 50,000 applicants are being assessed in 10 sports including athletics, boxing, wrestling, hockey, football, and more.
Transparent Selection Process:
- The programme emphasizes transparency in its selection methodology, utilizing Information Technology for the assessment process.
- Data analytics based on Artificial Intelligence are employed to predict the athletic potential of aspiring athletes.
