Fit India Sundays on Cycle 75th edition marks Commonwealth Games Day in Delhi, Gujarat
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The 75th edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative was celebrated across Delhi and Gujarat on 24 May, coinciding with Commonwealth Games Day and drawing thousands of participants, including prominent dignitaries, athletes, and youth. The event underscored India's dual role as host nation for the upcoming 2030 Commonwealth Games and its sustained push for mass fitness under the Fit India Movement.
Key Developments
The centrepiece gathering in Ahmedabad brought together Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Olympic medallist Gagan Narang, Olympic bronze medallist hockey player Gurjit Kaur, and actor Ayushmann Khurrana. Thousands of participants, predominantly youth, took to cycles across the city from as early as 5 am, reflecting what organisers described as widespread enthusiasm for the Commonwealth Games build-up.
Simultaneously, Delhi hosted its own edition of the campaign, with Minister Ashish Sood participating and reiterating the government's fitness messaging.
What the Government Said
Addressing the Ahmedabad gathering, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, 'Today is Commonwealth Games Day and also the 75th edition of Sundays on Cycle. Keeping both in mind, Sundays on Cycle was organised across the country. India is the host country for the Commonwealth, and Ahmedabad is the host city. To mark such a situation, thousands of youths have joined the event. Through Sundays on Cycle, youths have been encouraged towards sports, fitness and PM Narendra Modi's fuel-saving campaign.'
Mandaviya further noted, 'As Gujarat is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, we have gathered here to celebrate both Commonwealth Day and the 75th edition of Sundays on Cycle.'
In Delhi, Minister Ashish Sood said, 'The Fit India movement and Sundays on Cycle are a unique initiative of the Government of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently appealed for fitness, saying people should pedal a cycle before going to a doctor.'
Voices from the Field
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the initiative's momentum, saying, 'For the past several weeks, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has been continuously taking the Sundays on Cycle initiative forward. On behalf of Gujarat's youth, I express gratitude to everyone and also welcome Ayushmann Khurrana to the event.'
Olympic medallist Gagan Narang, who said he has recently relocated to Ahmedabad, called the campaign a strong effort: 'This is the 75th edition of Sundays on Cycle, which Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has been running under the Fit India movement. Mansukh Mandaviya has created a very good movement by amalgamating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in the Fit India Movement and Khelo India.'
Olympic bronze medallist hockey player Gurjit Kaur encouraged wider public participation: 'It feels good to come to Ahmedabad and participate in the Fit India Movement Sunday Cycling event. A lot of people are participating, and the youth are having a lot of fun. So, I would like to tell everyone to go cycling every Sunday.'
Broader Context and What It Signals
The Sundays on Cycle campaign has now completed 75 consecutive editions, making it one of the more sustained mass-participation fitness drives run by a central government ministry in recent years. Notably, this edition carried additional strategic weight: with Ahmedabad confirmed as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the event served as an early piece of public engagement ahead of an international sporting showcase that India is keen to leverage for infrastructure and sports-culture development. This comes amid a broader government effort to position fitness and grassroots sport as pillars of the Khelo India and Fit India policy agenda.
As the 2030 Commonwealth Games approach, events like Sunday cycling drives are expected to intensify in frequency and scale across host cities, with youth outreach remaining a central focus.