**Policy Summary: Fit India Sundays on Cycle Initiative to Combat Youth Addiction**
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) is launching a special edition of the nationwide "Fit India Sundays on Cycle" initiative, titled "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat," on July 20, 2025. This initiative, led by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to address the critical issue of substance abuse among India's youth, who constitute 65% of the nation's population. Substance abuse is viewed as a significant threat to national progress by trapping youth.
The 32nd edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle will be organized at 6000 locations across the country in partnership with educational institutions including CBSE, Kendriya Vidayalaya Sangathan, CISCE, DAV College Management Committee, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Bal Bharati Public School. It will commence from Banaras Hindu University campus in Varanasi. Dr. Mandaviya has called upon 1.5 million schools nationwide to participate. The initiative, which began in December 2024, has evolved into a mass movement with over 50,000 participants weekly.
In New Delhi, the event will begin at 7:00 AM at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, involving schools from the National Capital Region (NCR). The MYAS is collaborating with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes, and MY Bharat. Cycling drives will occur simultaneously in state and union territory capitals, SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs).
Previous events have seen participation from the Indian Army, CRPF, ITBP, Goods Services Tax Council, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), and prominent athletes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The government ministry responsible for organizing the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event and addressing youth-related issues like addiction.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya: The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports who is leading the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative and advocating for a drug-free India.
Fit India Sundays on Cycle: A nationwide initiative aimed at promoting fitness and raising awareness about substance abuse among youth through cycling events.
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: City in Uttar Pradesh, the location where Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will lead the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event.
Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat: A special edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle focused on creating a drug-free youth for a developed India.
Banaras Hindu University: The university campus in Varanasi from where the special edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle will begin.
Cycling Federation of India: An organization collaborating with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to organize the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event.
New Delhi, Delhi: The capital city of India, where the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event will be flagged off from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
With the aim of eradicating addiction amongst youth,
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya to lead Fit India Sundays on
Cycle with school kids in Varanasi on July 20
Posted On: 19 JUL 2025 3:09PM by PIB Delhi
With 65 per cent of the country’s population below the age of 35 years, substance abuse poses one of the
gravest threats confronting India’s youth, trapping them at a pivotal stage of life and posing a challenge to
national progress. Keeping this in mind, Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh
Mandaviya will be leading the special edition ‘Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat’ of nationwide ‘Fit India
Sundays on Cycle’ on July 20 from the Banaras Hindu University campus in Varanasi.
The 32nd edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle will be organised at 6000 locations across the
country in partnership with several educational institutions including Central Board of Secondary
Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidayalaya Sangathan, Council for the Indian School Certificate
Examination (CISCE), DAV College Management Committee, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Bal
Bharati Public School.
Dr Mandaviya has given a clarion call to 15 lakh schools across the country to pedal for health and
a drug-free Viksit Bharat. Started by the Union Sports Minister in December 2024, the ‘FIT India
Sundays on Cycle’ has transformed into a mass movement and has been organised in thousands of
locations across the country with participation of more than 50,000 individuals every week.
In New Delhi, the event will be flagged off at 7AM from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium along with
thousands of children from schools of National Capital Region (NCR).
“Youth are the nation builders of tomorrow. A healthy youth can only take the nation towards
prosperity. As envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India can transform into a
Viksit Bharat by 2047 only when our youth are healthy and fit. Today, addiction and substance
abuse have become big threats for the development of our youth. I will urge children of all ages and
each and every school throughout the sub-continent to take up the cause of Nasha-Mukt Viksit
Bharat and cycle for health and obesity-free India,” Dr Mandaviya said.
The ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in
collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes and MY Bharat. The cycling drive
is organised simultaneously in capitals of all States and Union Territories besides SAI Regional
Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State
Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and Khelo India centres (KICs) across various age groups.
Previously, the cycling event witnessed participation of Indian Army jawans, Central Reserve Police
Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Goods & Services Tax Council, Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs), Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), and prominent sports stars
like the Great Khali, Lovlina Borgohain, Priyanka Goswami, Rani Rampal, Rodali Barua, Sangram
Singh, Shanky Singh, Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora, Paris Paralympics medallists Nitesh Kumar,
Manisha Ramadass, Rubina Francis and Simran Sharma (para world champion) apart from
celebrities like Amit Sial, Rahul Bose, Madhurima Tuli, Mia Maelzer and Gul Panag, to name a few.
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Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar(Release ID: 2146056)