Nagaland's Youth Resources and Sports Department has received a SKOCH Silver Award for its Grassroots Football Festival, also known as the Baby League. The recognition places a child-focused state programme within a national assessment of governance and public-service initiatives.
Launched in June 2024, the annual festival introduces children aged five to 12 to structured football in an inclusive setting. Players are grouped into four age bands: five to six, seven to eight, nine to 10 and 11 to 12, with small-sided matches adjusted to their stage of development.
The format gives greater weight to enjoyment, learning and regular participation than to conventional tournament results. Coaches can observe young players and encourage continued involvement, but the programme's immediate purpose is to make organised sport accessible at an early age rather than to label children as elite prospects.
Participation has risen from about 142 children in an earlier edition to roughly 420 in the third edition held in 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to Nagaland's grassroots football work during a June 2026 Mann Ki Baat broadcast, bringing wider attention to the state's approach.
