Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 1
Development of Physical Fitness
Quick summary
Physical fitness is something to experience, not just read about. It needs time and will power, not money, and there is no shortcut. This chapter lists the components of fitness, activities that develop them, scientific training methods (circuit, weight and plyometric training), ways to measure intensity, and common misconceptions about exercise.
No single activity develops all components, so a variety is needed.
Activities: cycling (endurance, fat loss, balance; saves money and pollution), rhythmic movements like dance, Zumba and aerobics (20–30 minutes), games (kabaddi, kho-kho, football, badminton), hiking and trekking, walking/running/swimming (20–60 minutes; swimming is an all-round exercise), and yoga (asana, pranayama, meditation).
Circuit training: 6–10 exercise stations done in order; 30–60 seconds rest between stations; 2–6 circuits per session; 3–5 minutes rest between circuits; aims at muscular endurance and overall fitness.
Weight training: free weights or machines for strength and muscular endurance; 8–15 repetitions, 2–3 sets, 1–3 minutes rest between sets; train all major muscle groups (bench press, shoulder press, squat, bicep curl, leg press). Results need at least 6–8 weeks.
Plyometric training: fast, explosive movements (squat jump, box jump, depth jump, plyometric push-ups) to build explosive strength; useful in athletics, volleyball, basketball; 3–5 minutes rest between sets; needs warm-up and expert supervision; avoid with joint problems.
Intensity measurement: Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale from 0 (rest) to 10 (maximal); Talk test — if you can talk but not sing, intensity is moderate; if you cannot talk and feel breathless, it is high.
Misconceptions: weight training is not only for men and will not make women bulky; exercise is not only for weight loss; it need not be difficult or boring; protein supplements are not needed by ordinary people; sit-ups alone cannot burn belly fat — overall fat must reduce.
Important terms
Circuit training – a set of exercises done station by station in a fixed order.
Plyometrics – explosive jumping and bounding exercises.
RPE – Rating of Perceived Exertion, a 0–10 self-rating of effort.
Talk test – checking intensity by the ability to speak while exercising.
Key facts
Method
Reps / stations
Rest
Circuit
6–10 stations
30–60 s between stations
Weight
8–15 reps, 2–3 sets
1–3 min between sets
Plyometric
explosive jumps
3–5 min between sets
5 important questions
Q1. Name the skill-related components of physical fitness.
Speed, power, agility, coordination, balance and reaction time.
Q2. What is the talk test?
A simple way to judge intensity during endurance exercise: able to talk but not sing means moderate intensity; unable to talk and breathless means high intensity.
Q3. Explain circuit training.
6–10 exercise stations are done one after another for a fixed time or count with 30–60 seconds rest; one round is a circuit; 2–6 circuits are done with 3–5 minutes rest between them.
Q4. What precautions should be taken in plyometric training?
Warm up first and relax muscles after, train under a specialist, rest 3–5 minutes between sets, and avoid it if you have joint problems.
Q5. Write any three misconceptions about exercise.
Weight training is only for men; exercise is needed only to lose weight; sit-ups alone reduce belly fat.
Exam tip
Learn the numbers for each training method in a table; short-answer questions ask for rest periods and repetitions.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 2
Obesity
Quick summary
Obesity is the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body. The World Health Organization treats it as a disease because it invites many other diseases. This chapter explains types of obesity, how it is measured (BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, fat percentage), its ill effects, causes, and how to prevent it.
Key points
WHO defines health as "not merely the absence of disease or disability but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being".
Obesity is rising in India in all age groups; even rural people are at risk as modern machines make them inactive.
Types by fat distribution: apple shape (fat around stomach and waist, common in Indians) and pear shape (fat around hips and thighs).
Body Mass Index: BMI = weight (kg) ÷ height (m)². WHO categories are given in the table below. BMI cannot separate muscle from fat, so a muscular athlete may show a high BMI without being obese.
Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) = waist circumference ÷ hip circumference; it should not exceed 1 in men and 0.85 in women.
Ill effects: diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, joint diseases, brain stroke, infertility, breast cancer, hormonal imbalance, back pain, snoring and early death.
Causes: heredity, sedentary lifestyle, laziness, untimely and wrong eating, too many cold drinks, irregular sleep, mental imbalance, and screen time (mobile, TV, video games, computers). Lifestyle is the most important factor.
Prevention is better than cure: balanced diet and regular exercise; do your own housework, cycle instead of riding a motorbike, eat leafy vegetables, avoid junk food, maida, fried food and late-night eating, sleep early and wake early, use leisure for swimming, cycling or trekking, and check weight regularly.
Important terms
Obesity – excessive fat accumulation in the body.
BMI – weight in kg divided by the square of height in metres.
WHR – waist circumference divided by hip circumference.
Screen time – time spent on mobile, TV, video games and computers.
Obesity is the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body.
Q2. Sanket's BMI is 29.9. How is he classified?
Overweight (25.0–29.9).
Q3. How is BMI calculated? What is its limitation?
Weight in kg divided by the square of height in metres. It cannot distinguish muscle from fat, so muscular athletes may appear overweight.
Q4. What are the causes of obesity?
Heredity, sedentary life, laziness, untimely and unhealthy eating, cold drinks, irregular sleep, mental stress and too much screen time.
Q5. How can obesity be prevented?
Eat a balanced diet, avoid junk and fried food, exercise regularly, do housework, cycle, sleep on time, use leisure actively and check weight regularly.
Exam tip
Practise one BMI calculation (e.g. 60 kg, 1.6 m gives about 23.4, normal) — numerical questions are easy marks.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 3
Nature and Diet
Quick summary
Food is the basic, renewable source of energy for the body and comes entirely from nature. This chapter explains diet as seen in Indian traditional sciences (Ayurveda): the five elements, six tastes, regional food culture, seasonal diet (Ritucharya), the link between diet and mind, and special diets for sportspersons.
Key points
The universe is made of five basic elements (Panchamahabhutas): earth, water, fire, air and ether. A diet containing all five is balanced. Examples: earth dominates in wheat and jowar, water in fruits and milk, air in fermented foods.
Ayurveda says the daily diet should include six tastes (Shadrasa): sweet (madhura), sour (amla), salty (lavana), pungent, bitter and astringent (kashaya). Sweet nourishes and strengthens; sour creates appetite; salty adds taste and reduces lethargy; bitter aids digestion; pungent activates the gut; astringent gives contentment.
Food culture (Ahar Sanskriti): food grown in a region suits its climate — warm walnuts grow in cold regions, thirst-quenching coconuts on humid coasts. Locally grown food is easier to digest.
Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) keeps the three doshas — Vata, Pitta, Kapha — in balance. Uttarayana (Shishira, Vasanta, Grishma) is the Adana period when body strength falls; Dakshinayana (Varsha, Sharad, Hemanta) is the Visarga period when strength rises. Festivals carry seasonal food traditions.
Diet and mind: a pleasant mind helps digestive secretions; anger, sadness and stress disturb digestion and hormone release. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa (eating very little due to fear of weight gain) and bulimia nervosa (bingeing followed by vomiting or fasting).
Anxious people benefit from good fats, sweet-sour foods, ginger, garlic, coconut, mint; aggressive athletes should avoid very spicy food and eat leafy vegetables, gourds, grapes, amla and gulkand.
An athlete's diet depends on exercise type and duration, travel and outdoor time; carbohydrates should come from unpolished grains and protein from sprouts, pulses, milk, eggs and meat.
Important terms
Panchamahabhutas – five elements: earth, water, fire, air, ether.
Shadrasa – the six tastes of Ayurveda.
Ritucharya – seasonal diet and routine.
Tridosha – Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Key facts
Period
Seasons
Body strength
Uttarayana (Adana)
Shishira, Vasanta, Grishma
decreases
Dakshinayana (Visarga)
Varsha, Sharad, Hemanta
increases
5 important questions
Q1. What are the Panchamahabhutas?
The five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether.
Q2. Name the six tastes according to Ayurveda.
Sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent.
Q3. Why should we eat locally grown food?
Food produced in a region suits its climate and is easy for the body to digest; food not natural to a region may cause indigestion.
Q4. Explain Ritucharya.
Ayurvedic seasonal regimen that balances Vata, Pitta and Kapha. In Uttarayana body strength decreases, in Dakshinayana it increases, so diet is changed with the season.
Q5. How does the mind affect diet?
A pleasant mind ensures proper digestive secretions, while stress, anger or sadness disturb digestion and can lead to disorders like anorexia or bulimia.
Exam tip
Make a small chart of the six seasons under Uttarayana and Dakshinayana; it is a common match-the-pair question.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 4
Yoga and Mudra
Quick summary
Yoga, from the Sanskrit root "yuj" (to join), is the union of body, mind and soul and a path to balanced, stress-free living. This chapter covers the classification of asanas with examples in four body positions, guidelines for asanas, the parts of pranayama with Shitkari and Suryabhedan, and mudras — their meaning, types and benefits.
Key points
Modern life is polluted by stress, dissatisfaction, intolerance and loss of values; yoga restores balance of body, mind and soul and helps holistic development.
Asana: a steady, comfortable body position. By purpose: meditative (padmasana, siddhasana, vajrasana, swastikasana), health/physique enhancing (sarvangasana, bhujangasana, vakrasana) and resting (shavasana, makarasana).
By body position (each held about 30 seconds): supine — Dronasana, Chakrasana; prone — Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana; sitting — Baddha padmasana, Akarna dhanurasana; standing — Virasana, Kati chakrasana. Release every asana in reverse order.
Precautions: people with migraine, spinal disorders, slip disc, high blood pressure, hernia or heart problems should avoid certain asanas or practise under an expert.
Guidelines: keep body and mind calm, avoid jerks, do not strain to reach the final pose, breathe regularly, practise in a clean place.
Pranayama (fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga) has three parts: Puraka (inhalation), Kumbhaka (retention — Antar after inhaling, Bahya after exhaling) and Rechaka (exhalation).
Shitkari: teeth pressed together, inhale through the teeth with a "ssss" sound, exhale through the nose; cools the body, improves digestion, reduces acidity.
Suryabhedan: breathing through the right nostril with left closed (Pranav mudra); activates digestive fire and metabolism.
Practise pranayama in clean air, under guidance, without strain.
Mudra means "that which gives joy" (mud = happiness, da = to give). Mudras are gestures that guide energy flow; the five fingers represent the five elements — thumb fire, index air, middle space, ring earth, little finger water.
Sit in a meditative pose, press teeth together, inhale through the teeth with a hissing sound and exhale through the nose. It cools the body, improves digestion and reduces acidity.
Q5. Write any four benefits of mudras.
Physical and mental balance, gain of energy, sharper intellect, mental peace and a positive approach to life.
Exam tip
Learn the finger–element table and four mudra names; they are frequent one-mark questions.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 5
Doping (Stimulants)
Quick summary
Doping is the unnatural use of banned performance-enhancing drugs or methods to improve an athlete's physical abilities. It destroys fair competition and seriously harms health. This chapter explains what doping is, banned drugs and their side effects, famous doping cases, and misconceptions about supplements.
Key points
Sport aims to let athletes compete on equal terms using their natural abilities; doping destroys this.
The lure of prizes, money and fame tempts some athletes to use doping as a shortcut to years of training.
Doping includes steroids, stimulants, narcotics, diuretics, peptide hormones, and banned methods like blood transfusion.
Effects: can be fatal, shortens life, makes a person aggressive, causes emotional insensitivity, depression and lethargy.
Famous cases: Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson lost his 1988 Seoul Olympic gold for anabolic steroid use; Bulgarian weightlifter Angel Guenchev was banned at Seoul 1988 for diuretics; seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong was found guilty of doping; American basketball player Len Bias died in 1986 from drug use.
High-tech scientific testing methods now detect doping. Success needs honesty, fair play, team spirit, commitment and courage.
Gyms often push protein powders and creatine to teenagers for profit; for an average person a balanced diet and consistent training are enough. Supplements should be used only on advice of a qualified doctor or nutritionist; misuse can damage kidneys.
Misconceptions vs reality: protein powder does not create six-pack abs; weight-loss supplements are a health hazard; regular trainees do not need supplements; stars stay fit through workouts and diet planned with doctors.
Anti-doping is handled worldwide by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and in India by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
Important terms
Doping – use of banned substances or methods to enhance performance.
Anabolic steroids – drugs that build muscle artificially.
Diuretics – drugs that increase urine output, misused for quick weight loss or to hide other drugs.
EPO (Erythropoietin) – hormone that increases red blood cells.
high blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dermatitis, lethargy
EPO
excessive rise in red blood cells
5 important questions
Q1. What is doping?
The unnatural use of banned performance-enhancing drugs or methods to improve an athlete's physical abilities.
Q2. What are the side effects of anabolic steroids?
Kidney damage, liver cancer, hair loss and low sperm count.
Q3. Name two athletes found guilty of doping.
Ben Johnson (Canada, sprint, Seoul 1988) and Lance Armstrong (USA, cycling, Tour de France).
Q4. What are the misconceptions about supplements?
That protein powder gives six-pack abs, that supplements cause quick fat loss, that every trainee needs them, and that stars depend on them for their physique.
Q5. Why should athletes avoid doping?
It is unfair, banned and dangerous; it can damage organs, cause depression or death, and leads to loss of medals and bans.
Exam tip
Learn the drug–side-effect table; the textbook exercise asks you to complete exactly this table.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 6
Injury Management
Quick summary
Injuries can happen during sports practice or competition. This chapter explains minor and major injuries, precautions to prevent them, the types of sports injuries (soft tissue, joint and bone), first aid and its goals, management and rehabilitation of each type of injury, and basic CPR.
Key points
Minor injuries allow the player to continue; with major injuries continuing play is dangerous.
Prevention: good fitness; proper warm-up (prepares muscles, bones and joints) and cool-down (removes lactic acid, prevents cramps); psychological preparation; similar practice and competition climate; proper sportswear (not too loose or tight) and certified equipment; following rules; stopping when fatigued.
First aid is the immediate help given to an injured person before a doctor or hospital is reached. Goals: help the casualty, reduce distress, save life.
Soft tissue care: rest, ice pack for 20–30 minutes, no massage for 48 hours, clean and bandage wounds, cold compression for swelling, see a doctor, rehabilitation exercises.
Joint care: gently reset only if possible, rest and immobilise, cold compression, support bandage, X-ray or arthroscopy, plaster or surgery as advised, strengthening exercises.
Bone care: stop movement, support the bone with a flat wooden scale (splint), rush to hospital, X-ray, realignment and plaster, then doctor-guided isometric exercises.
Emergency steps: ensure your own safety, check response, call for help, dial 108 for ambulance, check breathing, tilt head back and lift chin to open the airway.
CPR: interlocked palms at the centre of the chest, elbows straight, compressions about 4–5 cm deep at about 100 per minute (textbook values; current first-aid guidelines say 100–120 per minute and about 5 cm), releasing fully each time. Learn CPR from trained experts.
Important terms
First aid – immediate help to an injured person before medical care.
Dislocation – displacement of a bone from its joint.
Fracture – break in a bone.
CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique using chest compressions.
Key facts
Injury type
Examples
Soft tissue
scrape, bruise, cut, sprain, prick
Joint
partial or complete dislocation
Bone
compound, greenstick, stress, comminuted fracture
Emergency number
108 (ambulance)
5 important questions
Q1. What is first aid?
Immediate and appropriate help given to an injured person before reaching a doctor or hospital.
Q2. What are the goals of first aid?
To help the casualty, reduce distress and save life.
Q3. Write preventive measures to avoid sports injuries.
Maintain fitness, warm up and cool down, prepare mentally, wear proper sportswear, use certified equipment, follow rules and stop when tired.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 7
Modern Technology - Activism
Quick summary
Modern information technology has made life comfortable but has reduced physical activity, causing many health problems. This chapter discusses the harmful effects of too much screen time, rules for using gadgets wisely, and how the same technology — fitness apps, wearable smart devices and virtual games — can help us stay active.
Key points
Technology lets us order everything home and operate appliances by mobile; work power has increased but physical work capacity has fallen.
Earlier, families and children spent leisure playing games, skipping and climbing trees; now they are glued to mobiles, tablets and computers. Ideally at least one hour a day should go to physical activity, but most students are inactive.
Screen time is the time spent in front of TV, computer, mobile and video games. Long screen time reduces activity, weakens muscles and bones, and is a cause of obesity in children.
Harmful effects of excess screen time: obesity, weak muscles and bones, poor concentration, psychological imbalance, frustration, neck and back disorders, eye strain.
Rules: use gadgets only for the time fixed by parents; not more than 20–30 minutes at a stretch; keep the spine erect and the screen at a proper distance; at least 1 hour of physical activity (cycling, swimming, play) daily; use mobiles for learning rather than social networking and games.
Walk at least 10,000–12,000 steps every day.
Mobile fitness apps track exercise intensity and duration, calories, distance walked or run, heart rate, sleep time and weekly summaries (the book names apps such as Google Fit, Samsung Health, Nike Plus, Runkeeper, Fitness Builder).
Wearable smart devices show vital data during exercise: smart wrist watch (exercise duration, calories, reminders when sitting too long), smart rope (counts jumps), smart shoes, smart socks and gloves, smart shorts with a chip.
Virtual games use motion-sensitive equipment (racquets, bats) and a virtual opponent, so real playing movements are needed.
Benefits of exercising with technology: motivation, reaching goals, exercising with friends online, sharing progress, winning rewards, measuring repetitions and intensity, alerts on posture and weight distribution to avoid injury.
Important terms
Screen time – time spent on TV, computer, mobile and video games.
Fitness app – mobile application that tracks physical activity.
Wearable smart device – clothing or gadget that records vital data during exercise.
Virtual game – motion-based game against a computer-generated opponent.
Key facts
Guideline
Value
Physical activity daily
at least 1 hour
Continuous screen use
not more than 20–30 minutes
Daily steps
10,000–12,000
5 important questions
Q1. What is screen time?
Time spent in front of TV, computer, mobile and video games.
Q2. Name any four wearable smart devices.
Smart wrist watch, smart rope, smart shoes and smart shorts (also smart socks and gloves).
Q3. What are the harmful effects of excessive screen time?
Obesity, weak muscles and bones, poor concentration, frustration, neck and back problems and eye strain.
Q4. Write rules for using gadgets wisely.
Use them only for the time parents decide, not more than 20–30 minutes at a stretch, keep good posture and distance, play at least one hour daily and use them mainly for learning.
Q5. Write any two benefits of exercising with modern technology.
It motivates us by tracking progress and goals, and it alerts us about repetitions, intensity and posture to prevent injury.
Exam tip
For true/false questions remember: overuse of mobiles does harm, and fitness apps can measure heart rate.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 8
Career Opportunities in Sports
Quick summary
Sport is no longer only entertainment; it has grown into a large field of careers. People with passion for sports, exercise and health and good knowledge of games can find many professions in playing, teaching, fitness, sports science, media, management, equipment and yoga. This chapter lists these careers with qualifications and work areas.
Key points
Growing awareness shows in village competitions, gyms and training centres, sports clubs in hotels and cities, and people walking and running for fitness.
Player (state, national, international medallist; 12th pass): jobs in government, semi-government, private and professional sports organisations. Maharashtra keeps a 5% quota in government jobs for medal winners.
Physical education teacher (B.P.E., B.P.Ed., M.P.Ed.): primary to higher-secondary and international schools. Director of physical education (M.P.Ed., Ph.D., SET/NET): colleges and universities.
Coach/trainer (NIS course of Sports Authority of India, one year; or six-week certificate): government sports offices, private academies, military, clubs.
Health and fitness: fitness or gym trainer (fitness diploma, B.P.Ed., NIS fitness), sports massage therapist, sports medicine specialist, sports nutritionist, sports psychologist (PG diploma in sports psychology), physiotherapist (degree in physical therapy), sports science lab technician.
Sports media: sports journalist, writer, editor (degree in sports or TV/radio journalism); sports photographer, videographer, spider-cam operator, data analyst; commentator, critic, talk-show host.
Sports management: sports manager, event manager, stadium manager, marketing director (certificate, degree or PG diploma in sports management); employers include event companies, BCCI, ICC, sports federations, clubs and YMCA.
Sports equipment: retailer, manufacturer or wholesaler of equipment and sportswear.
Yoga: yoga teacher, therapist, instructor, research officer, yoga and naturopathy (certificate and degree courses).
Success needs a professional attitude, knowing one's own abilities and interests, and marketing skills.
Important terms
B.P.Ed. / M.P.Ed. – Bachelor / Master of Physical Education.
NIS – National Institute of Sports coaching course under the Sports Authority of India.
Sports nutritionist – expert who plans diets for athletes.
Sports psychologist – expert who helps athletes with mental preparation.
Key facts
Career
Qualification
PE teacher
B.P.Ed. / M.P.Ed.
College PE director
M.P.Ed., Ph.D., SET/NET
Coach
NIS (SAI) course
Sports psychologist
PG diploma in sports psychology
Physiotherapist
degree in physical therapy
5 important questions
Q1. What qualification is needed to become a physical education teacher?
B.P.E., B.P.Ed. or M.P.Ed.
Q2. What reservation does Maharashtra give to medal-winning players?
A 5% quota in government jobs.
Q3. Name four careers in the health and fitness sector.
Fitness trainer, sports massage therapist, sports nutritionist and physiotherapist.
Q4. Write about careers in sports media.
Sports journalist and writer for newspapers and channels, photographer or videographer for live events, data analyst, commentator and talk-show host.
Q5. Why is sport now a good career field?
Rising health awareness, many competitions, gyms and clubs, professional leagues and media coverage have created jobs in playing, coaching, fitness, management and media.
Exam tip
Prepare a table of "career → qualification → work place"; questions often ask for any one career in detail.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 9
Various Games
Quick summary
Sports have been part of every civilisation, shaped by its geography and climate. Today sport is both a path to fitness and a profession. This chapter explains the importance of sports, the role of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), and classifies the games played in schools into groups.
Key points
In ancient times sports were entertainment and a show of bravery; now they have become professional.
Grantland Rice: winning or losing is not important; the way you play the game is more important.
Sports condition the body, toughen the mind, teach acceptance of victory and defeat, and above all build self-discipline and personality.
Many Indian youth focus only on cricket; other sports also offer great opportunities.
The School Games Federation of India (SGFI) conducts national competitions for school students. Selection runs through taluka, district, division and state levels conducted by the district sports department. SGFI's yearly calendar lists the included games.
Teachers may choose games based on local geography, convenience and equipment, and should include traditional games to keep local culture alive.
Class 11 (Science, Commerce, Arts) · Health and Physical Education · Chapter 10
Various Sports Competitions
Quick summary
This chapter gives the history and main features of major international competitions — the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and South Asian (SAF) Games — and national competitions such as the National Games, Khelo India and national school games.
Key points
Olympic Games: Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the ancient Greek Olympics; after his 1894 Paris conference the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. He is the Father of the modern Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) organises the Games; its headquarters are at Lausanne, Switzerland.
Olympic motto: "Citius, Altius, Fortius" — Faster, Higher, Stronger (the IOC added "Together" in 2021). The flag has five interlinked rings — blue, black, yellow, green, red — for the five continents and their unity.
Opening ceremony: Olympic song, march past, release of doves, lighting of the Olympic torch, hoisting of the flag, and the oath taken by an athlete of the host country.
Asian Games: proposed by Guru Dutt Sondhi, Indian IOC member; Asian Games Federation formed in 1949. First Asian Games held in New Delhi, 4–11 March 1951 (489 athletes, 11 countries, 8 sports). Held every 4 years, two years apart from the Olympics.
Commonwealth Games: for nations of the Commonwealth (former British territories). Grew from the 1911 Festival of the Empire in London; called the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950. India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
South Asian (SAF) Games: started to promote friendship among SAARC nations; governed by the South Asia Olympic Council (1983). First held at Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1984; every 2 years since 1987. Members: India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
National Games: first Olympic-style National Games held in New Delhi in 1985, in memory of Indira Gandhi; run by the Indian Olympic Association; aim to build unity and sportsmanship.
Khelo India: revamped scheme launched in 2017–18 for mass participation and excellence; first Khelo India Youth Games in 2018, held annually for under-17 school and under-21 college students in 16 sports. Selected talented players get Rs 5 lakh a year for 8 years; 20 universities are to become sporting hubs.
Important terms
IOC – International Olympic Committee.
Olympic motto – Citius, Altius, Fortius.
SAOC – South Asia Olympic Council, governing the South Asian Games.
Khelo India – national programme to revive grassroots sports.
Key facts
Event
First held
Modern Olympics
1896, Athens
Asian Games
1951, New Delhi
South Asian Games
1984, Kathmandu
National Games (Olympic style)
1985, New Delhi
Khelo India Youth Games
2018
5 important questions
Q1. Who is known as the Father of the modern Olympics?
Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France.
Q2. Where are the IOC headquarters?
Lausanne, Switzerland.
Q3. What do the five Olympic rings represent?
The five continents and their unity.
Q4. Write a short note on the Asian Games.
Proposed by Guru Dutt Sondhi; first held in New Delhi in March 1951 with 489 athletes from 11 countries in 8 sports; held every 4 years.
Q5. What are the objectives of Khelo India?
To revive sports culture at the grassroots, encourage mass participation, find and train talent with financial help and good facilities, and build excellence in sports.
Exam tip
Learn first-held years and venues as a table; one-sentence questions in the exercise ask exactly these.