**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3614, concerning the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme in Maharashtra. As of August 11, 2025, KIRTI talent assessment drives are not currently being conducted at any Talent Assessment Centres (TACs) nationwide. However, during phases 1 and 2 of the KIRTI program, a total of 25,434 athletes in Maharashtra, aged 9-18, were assessed across 9 TACs. These TACs are designed to be accessible to individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The KIRTI program is a nationwide initiative focused on mass talent identification of grassroots-level athletes for Khelo India disciplines, with talent identification being a continuous process conducted in TACs located in rural, tribal, and other districts. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports is Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Entities Referenced
KIRTI Programme: Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme, a nationwide mass talent identification program for grassroots level athletes.
Maharashtra: A state in India where the KIRTI program is being implemented and where talent assessment centers are located.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The Indian government ministry responsible for youth affairs and sports, overseeing initiatives like the KIRTI program.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya: The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question regarding the KIRTI program.
Talent Assessment Centres (TACs): Centers established under the KIRTI program to conduct talent assessments of young athletes.
Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde: Member of Parliament who raised the question in Lok Sabha regarding the KIRTI program in Maharashtra.
Khelo India: A national programme for the development of sports in India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where questions about the KIRTI program were raised.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
(DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3614
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
KIRTI Programme in Maharashtra
3614. Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Talent Assessment Centres (TACs) currently operational
under the KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) programme in the
State of Maharashtra;
(b) the total number of children assessed and selected from Maharashtra
through the said initiative since its inception;
(c) whether there are any plans to expand the number of TACs in
Maharashtra, especially in rural and tribal districts; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure equitable
access to KIRTI Assessment Centres across all socio-economic
backgrounds in Maharashtra?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
{ DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA }
(a) to (d) Project Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) is a
nationwide mass talent identification programme for grassroots level
athletes. Under this, athletes between the age group 09 to 18 years i.e.
school-going age are assessed for Khelo India disciplines through talent
assessment drives.
Under KIRTI, talent identification is a continuous process and assessment
drives are conducted in identified Talent Assessment Centres located in
rural, tribal and other districts. Currently, under KIRTI, talent assessment
drives are not being carried out at any Talent Assessment Centre. However,
in the State of Maharashtra during KIRTI phase 1 and 2, a total of 25,434
athletes were assessed across 09 Talent Assessment Centres.
Page 1 of 2Further, KIRTI talent assessment drives are conducted across talent
assessment centres which are open across to all socio-economic
backgrounds in the country.
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