Schoolchildren from Gandhinagar gathered at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) on Sunday, 23 August for the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, held under the theme 'Unnat Bharat Abhiyan'. The event, staged at Swarn Jayanti Park, blended cycling, sport, cultural performances and a short financial literacy session into a structured morning for young participants.

How the Morning Unfolded

Students from Om Landmark School and Green Valley School for Children kicked off the session with a warm-up and physical training drill, followed by a push-up fitness challenge. The programme then broadened well beyond physical exercise, incorporating activities designed to give children exposure to arts, culture and basic academic concepts.

Sayanti, a Class 6 student of Green Valley School for Children, performed a dance to the patriotic song 'Teri Mitti', while Ravalveer, a Class 10 student of Om Landmark School, presented a Gujarati folk song to the assembled participants. A short financial awareness session followed, with Harshiv of Green Valley School for Children delivering a presentation titled 'Basic Introduction to Finance'.

Sports, Games and the Cycling Ride

Before taking to their cycles, students participated in a range of recreational games — train box, badminton, volleyball, carrom and chess. The cycling activity itself was conducted within the SAI NCoE campus, in keeping with the weekly format of the national initiative.

The multi-activity format reflects a deliberate design choice: rather than limiting the programme to cycling alone, organisers have woven in sport, learning and cultural expression to sustain engagement among schoolchildren across age groups.

National Scale of the 87th Edition

The 87th edition was held simultaneously across the country, with events reported from New Delhi, Leh, Kargil and Port Blair, among other locations. More than 18,000 locations across India participated in this week's cycling drive, according to reports.

In Visakhapatnam, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse led a BRICS Friendship Cycling Event alongside representatives from several BRICS member countries, adding an international dimension to the day's activities.

What the Government Said

Minister Mandaviya noted that cycling delivers benefits beyond personal fitness, arguing that it can help ease traffic congestion, cut pollution and reduce fuel consumption. 'Therefore, let us all stay fit to build a developed India,' he added.

Fit India Sundays on Cycle was launched in December 2024 by Mandaviya and is organised by the Sports Authority of India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India and partner organisations. The initiative runs simultaneously across states and Union territories, covering SAI Regional Centres, NCOEs, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence and Khelo India Centres.

Broader Significance

Now in its 87th consecutive Sunday edition, the programme has established itself as one of India's most consistently run mass fitness drives since its launch. The Gandhinagar event illustrates how local chapters are moving beyond the core cycling brief to offer children a rounded morning — a model that, if sustained, could deepen community participation as the initiative approaches its first full year.