The National Sports Day of India is celebrated on August 29 every year. Background Every year on August 29, India observes National Sports Day, commemorating the birthday (born in 1905) of Major Dhyan Chand, an esteemed field hockey player considered one of the finest in history. The recognition of this day was established in 2012, with the inaugural celebration occurring on August 29, 2012. The primary aim of commemorating National Sports Day is to foster sports engagement among the youth of the nation. Significance of National Sports Day National Sports Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of Indian athletes and to promote the importance of sports in society. It is also a day to remember the legacy of Major Dhyan Chand and his contribution to Indian sports. On National Sports Day, various sporting events are held across the country. These events are open to all, regardless of age, gender, or skill level. The aim is to encourage people to participate in sports and to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The President of India gives away the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards on National Sports Day. These awards are the highest sporting honors in India and are given to athletes who have made outstanding contributions to sports. Theme for 2026 The National Sports Day (NSD) 2026 celebrations will be led by the Fit India Mission and organised as a nation-wide sports and fitness movement. The movement seeks to spread awareness about the importance of dedicating at least 60 minutes daily to physical activity for preventing lifestyle diseases. The spirit of NSD 2026 also pays special tribute to Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship, Respect and Paralympic values of Courage, Determination, Inspiration, and Equality. NSD 2026 will be celebrated as a Jan Andolan in the truest sense, with schools, colleges & universities bringing together over 35 crore students, Youth Clubs, volunteers from MY Bharat and National Service Scheme, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Panchayats, urban local bodies (ULBs), corporates, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), National Sports Federations (NSFs), Sports Authority of India (SAI), and lakhs of community groups joining hands to make it a nationwide festival of sports and fitness. Eminent athletes and public representatives are also set to take part in the celebrations and engage with sports activities in all corners of the nation. Aligned with India’s vision of hosting the Olympic Games in 2036, the celebrations aim to foster a culture of mass participation in sports and fitness activities across Bharat. The vision is to unite the entire nation to celebrate inclusively, embracing both modern sports and traditional indigenous games. The framework for the three-day festival is as follows: The celebrations are designed to be inclusive of all age groups – from children playing indigenous games, to youth sports competitions, to yoga sessions and cycling rallies, to stretching exercises and fitness walks for senior citizens. Source : National Sports Day Information