Mandaviya Flags Off ‘Sunday On Cycle’ Event In Srinagar, Calls Fitness Key To Developed India

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday flagged off the ‘Sunday on Cycle’ event along the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar, stressing that physically fit citizens are essential for building a healthy and developed nation .

The cycling rally was organised during the three-day Chintan Shivir of sports ministers hosted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in Srinagar, where policymakers from states and Union Territories gathered to deliberate on strengthening India’s sports ecosystem and promoting grassroots participation in physical activity.

Speaking to reporters after launching the event, Mandaviya said that a country can progress only when its people remain healthy. “If any country wants to become prosperous, its citizens need to be fit. Fit citizens lead to a healthy society , and only a healthy society can build a developed India,” he said.

He said the ‘Sunday on Cycle’ campaign is being organised simultaneously at more than 16,000 locations across the country every Sunday , encouraging people to adopt cycling as a regular habit and promote a culture of fitness. The minister added that youth in Srinagar will now also participate in the weekly activity to spread the message of the Fit India movement .

The initiative forms part of the broader Fit India Movement , launched by the government to encourage active lifestyles and community participation in sports and fitness. The ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ programme , started by Mandaviya in December 2024 , promotes fitness along with environmental awareness and sustainable mobility through mass cycling events across the country.

Officials said the nationwide cycling drives are organised in collaboration with bodies such as the Cycling Federation of India, Yogasana Bharat, Raahgiri Foundation, MY Bharat, and the Indian Rope Skipping Federation . The events are conducted across states and Union Territories at venues including SAI regional centres, national training centres, and Khelo India facilities , enabling participation from youth, athletes, and local communities.

The initiative has gradually evolved into a nationwide people’s movement , aimed at improving public health, increasing sports participation, and inspiring citizens to incorporate simple physical activities into their daily routines.