Himachal Pradesh plans statewide Khelo Himachal anti-drug sports tournament for 2026

The Himachal Pradesh government is preparing to hold the Khelo Himachal–Chitta Mukt Abhiyan 2026 tournament across the state. The announcement was made on 4 November 2026. The planned championship is open to men and women aged 15–30 and will include cricket, volleyball and kabaddi, with participation from all 12 districts.

Competition stages and prizes

The competition is planned in three stages: sub-division, district and state. At sub-division level, first, second and third place will receive ₹51,000, ₹41,000 and ₹31,000, respectively. District-level prizes are ₹2 lakh, ₹1.5 lakh and ₹1 lakh. At state level, the winning, runner-up and third-placed teams will receive ₹31 lakh, ₹15 lakh and ₹10 lakh, respectively.

A Youth Services and Sports Department spokesperson said the initiative aims to engage young people in sport, promote fitness, discipline, teamwork and a healthy lifestyle, and encourage them to stay away from drugs. The tournament is also intended to provide young players with a platform to display their talent.

Important Facts for Exams

• Cricket format: In Twenty20 cricket, each team bats for one innings of 20 overs, with each over comprising six fair opportunities to score.
• Volleyball contacts: A volleyball team may use up to three touches to return the ball, but one player cannot touch it twice consecutively.
• Kabaddi styles: Kabaddi’s two major forms are standard style, played on a rectangular court, and circle style, played on a circular field.