PM Modi Praises Nagaland Grassroots Football in 135th Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated India’s expanding sports culture by commending Nagaland’s grassroots football programs during his monthly radio address. He emphasized that local leagues are essential for discovering young talent, fostering national athletic excellence, and establishing sports as a viable career path for the next generation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Nagaland’s grassroots football development programmes, highlighting the Nagaland Baby League and the Nagaland Women Futsal League as inspiring examples of how sports are nurturing young talent and creating new opportunities across the country. Addressing the 135th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister underlined the growing interest among youngsters in pursuing sports as a career and said such initiatives were helping shape the future of Indian sports.

PM Modi said, “I often say, Those who play, blossom, today, the number of young people in the country who are both playing sports and blossoming is growing rapidly. Compared to the past, far more young people are now pursuing sports as a career. I have learned about two such initiatives in Nagaland that are quite interesting. The first initiative is the ‘Nagaland Baby League’. Hearing the name, you might presume this is just an ordinary league for very young children, but that is not the case.”

He further added, “It is an extraordinary league for children aged 5 to 10 to 12 – blossoming youngsters – that not only inspires them and nurtures their speed and talent but also helps establish their identity. It was launched to connect as many children as possible in Nagaland with football. Boys and girls aged five to twelve can participate. The league has now completed three years of operation. This league has had a positive impact on the children.” The Nagaland Baby League is designed to promote physical fitness among children while providing a platform to identify and nurture promising footballers from an early age.

The programme is open to boys and girls across four age categories, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years, with talented participants receiving opportunities for further coaching and training based on their performances. The Prime Minister also applauded the Nagaland Women’s Futsal League for encouraging greater participation of women in football and offering aspiring players a competitive platform.

“Another commendable initiative is underway in Nagaland: the ‘Nagaland Women Futsal League’. ‘Futsal’ might be a new term for some of you; let me explain that it is also known as indoor football. In each team, there are only five players, and the playing court is much smaller than a standard football field. Consequently, players must make quick decisions and effectively utilize their technique and skills,” PM Modi said.

“The Nagaland Women’s Futsal League is providing a wonderful platform for our daughters to showcase their talent. I commend the people of Nagaland for such initiatives; these efforts serve as an inspiration to other parts of the country as well,” he added. The second edition of the Nagaland Women’s Futsal League 2026 was organised by the Youth Resources and Sports Department, Government of Nagaland, in collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association, from May 11 to 16 at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima. The tournament aims to boost women’s participation in sports while providing a competitive platform for futsal players from across the state. It featured a total prize pool of Rs 2 lakh, with individual honours including Best Player, Best Defender, Best Goalkeeper and other awards recognising outstanding performances.

National Security and Public Mobilization

Reviewing the initial half of 2026, the Prime Minister shifted attention toward India’s accelerating strides in national security and domestic manufacturing. He spotlighted the official introduction of INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray into the Indian Navy fleet during an assembly in Kolkata, affirming that their entire engineering and construction phases were completed domestically.

In aerospace news, Modi hailed the inaugural flight of the domestically manufactured C-295 military transport aircraft, noting that 40 of these units will be produced internally to stimulate the domestic aerospace and MSME markets. Additionally, he celebrated the successful trial of the indigenous Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM), created via a partnership between DRDO laboratories and commercial industries.

Addressing global pressures stemming from the ongoing West Asia geopolitical crisis, the Prime Minister commended citizens for adopting domestic resource conservation practices. He noted that families are actively choosing public transit, utilizing natural fertilizers, carpooling, and adjusting luxury spending on foreign vacations or gold to safeguard the domestic economic landscape.

Environmental and Educational Advancements

Modi extended congratulations to the Indian athletic contingent for securing 114 total medals, including 102 gold medals, at the World Yogasana Championship held in Ahmedabad, alongside noting widespread participation across 2,500 global locations on International Yoga Day.

In environmental preservation, he lauded wildlife researcher Purnima Devi Barman and her female-led Hargila Army in Assam for leveraging scientific education to preserve the endangered Hargila stork. He also celebrated Meghalaya’s local populations for sustaining their unique living root bridges, which are currently being consideration for UNESCO World Heritage tracking.

Turning to education, the Prime Minister praised Nalanda University for restoring traditional debate forums and acknowledged Central Sanskrit University’s new technical curriculum in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Finally, ahead of regional festivals, he urged citizens to back regional craftspeople by selecting traditional clay options rather than imported plaster designs, while emphasizing community water storage via the Catch the Rain initiative.

FAQs

What is the Nagaland Baby League highlighted by PM Modi?

The initiative is a specialized grassroots sports program operating for 3 years in Nagaland. It is open to boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 12 to build physical fitness and identify young football talent early.

Where was the Nagaland Women’s Futsal League 2026 hosted?

The second edition of the tournament occurred from May 11 to 16, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium situated in Kohima, organized via a state collaboration with the Nagaland Football Association.

Which domestic defense achievements did the Prime Minister mention?

The Prime Minister emphasized the deployment of three indigenous naval ships named INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray, alongside the maiden flight of the locally produced C-295 transport aircraft.

How many medals did India claim at the World Yogasana Championship?

Indian competitors secured the top spot at the competitive tournament in Ahmedabad by winning 114 medals, which featured an impressive haul of 102 gold medals.