As he opened the eighth Khelo India Youth Games on Sunday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasized how the state and federal governments had helped Bihar’s sports infrastructure grow quickly. He said that government positions are being awarded to deserving athletes—367 athletes have been hired so far—and that playgrounds are being constructed in schools and other locations around the state.

Kumar referred to it as a “matter of pride” for the state and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving Bihar the chance to host the Khelo India Youth Games. He said that under Modi’s direction, the national government has been fully supporting Bihar’s growth. The CM cited the Union Budget, which was announced in July 2024 after the third straight term of the NDA. The budget included specific funding for important areas such as industry, highways, tourism, health, and flood management.

A Makhana Board, a Greenfield Airport, funding for the Western Kosi Canal, a National Food Processing Institute, and plans to expand IIT Bihar are just a few of the recent budget announcements that Kumar mentioned.

Five districts in Bihar are hosting this year’s Khelo India Youth Games. In Patna, Gaya, and Rajgir, where a new Sports Academy and Sports University have also been created, the chief minister recently examined the preparations. In order to further promote sports growth in the state, he also emphasized the establishment of a separate Sports Department in 2024.

Players greeted the CM warmly earlier in the event, and Sports Minister Surendra Mehta gave him a gift.