SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 21

Solution: The correct answer is No sport has been officially designated as India's national sport.
Explanation:
☛ In 2020, in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) clarified that the Government of India has not declared any sport as the official 'National Sport' of the country.
☛ The Ministry stated that the objective of the Government is to encourage and promote all popular sports disciplines equally without according special official status to any single sport.
☛ Although Field Hockey is culturally and traditionally perceived as India's national sport due to its rich legacy and historic Olympic success, it has no legal or official de jure designation as such.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Olympic Dominance in Hockey: The Indian men's hockey team has won a total of 8 Olympic gold medals (1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980).
☛ National Sports Day: Observed annually on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
☛ Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: It is India's highest sporting honour, renamed from the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in August 2021.
☛ Official National Symbols: While India has no official national sport, it has officially notified national symbols, including the Bengal Tiger (National Animal), Indian Peacock (National Bird), and Lotus (National Flower).
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ On which date is National Sports Day celebrated every year in India? → 29 August
☛ In which year did the Indian men's hockey team win its first Olympic gold medal? → 1928 (Amsterdam Olympics)
☛ What is the highest sporting honour awarded in India? → Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
☛ Which animal was officially declared as India's National Heritage Animal in 2010? → Elephant
☛ Which creature was declared as the National Aquatic Animal of India in 2009? → Ganges River Dolphin