THE INAUGURAL EDITION of the Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) will be held from 25 March to 6 April across three cities in Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja.
The Games will feature seven medal sports: athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming and wrestling. In addition, mallakhamb and kabaddi will be showcased as demonstration sports. Athletes from most Indian states and Union Territories are expected to take part in the event.
The logo, theme song and official mascot of the Games were unveiled on 23 December at the Late B. R. Yadav Sports Stadium in Bilaspur.
The 2026 edition of KITG will be jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India, Indian Olympic Association, various National Sports Federations, and the Chhattisgarh state organising committee. The event will follow technical standards aligned with international competition benchmarks.
The official mascot, ‘Morveer’, draws inspiration from Chhattisgarh’s cultural heritage. The name combines the Chhattisgarhi word ‘Mor’, meaning mine or our own, with ‘Veer’, which symbolises bravery and valour. Together, the mascot represents the spirit, pride and identity of India’s tribal communities.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said, “Tapping talent from tribal regions is key and continuously expanding our athlete-base is the requirement of the hour. We are ensuring that talented youngsters from tribal communities are identified early, supported systematically, and integrated into the national sports framework.”
