Context
Recently, Project Nanhi Kali was honoured with the Sports for Social Good Award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026, in recognition of its long-standing efforts to empower girls from underserved communities through sports.
About the Project Nnanhi Kali
· Objective and Inception: Launched in 1996, the project focuses on empowering girls from underserved communities through a combination of education and sport.
· Implementing Organization: The programme is managed by the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust.
· Geographical Reach: It currently supports over 8.7 lakh girls across 15 States, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
· Target Demographic: The initiative primarily supports girls studying in government schools.
· Integration of Sport:
- In 2018, the project launched ‘Sports for Life’ to promote fitness, leadership, and confidence among participants.
- In FY25, approximately 94,000 girls were engaged in the programme, including more than 18,000 participants in football.
· Recent Honors: The project received the ‘Sports for Social Good’ award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026.
Related Industrial/Sporting Context
- IndianOil Corporation Limited (IOCL): Recognized as the ‘Best PSU for Promotion of Sport’ at the same ceremony. This reaffirms its four-decade commitment to nurturing sporting talent in India’s ecosystem.
With reference to Project Nanhi Kali, consider the following statements:
1. The project was launched in 1996 to empower girls from underserved communities through education and sports.
2. The programme is implemented by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The project was launched in 1996 with the primary objective of empowering girls from underserved communities. While it began with a focus on education, it later expanded to include sports, notably through the launch of the 'Sports for Life' initiative in 2018.
Statement 2 is correct: The programme is managed and implemented by the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust.
