The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the 89th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Surat with the theme "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat" (Drug-Free Youth for Developed India). The event brought together athletes, fitness enthusiasts, students, youth, and citizens to promote healthy, active, and substance-free lifestyles. Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi led the event and administered the Nasha Mukt Pledge to participants, reaffirming their commitment to building a healthier, safer, and drug-free India.
The Surat event commenced at Sardar Patel Statue, Mangadh Chowk, where participants engaged in fitness activities, yoga, zumba, and various challenges before embarking on a cycling ride toward Sarthana Zoo. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India movement has led to this nationwide campaign, noting that cycling offers multiple benefits including effective exercise, support for Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign, pollution reduction, and fuel conservation. He urged participants to incorporate cycling into daily routines beyond Sundays.
The event achieved significant scale with over 5 million participants joining from more than 25,000 locations across India. Several distinguished athletes participated in the 6km awareness ride, including Padma Shri awardee and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awardee Achanta Sharath Kamal, Arjuna Awardee and former World No. 1 wrestler Sarita Mor, Arjuna Awardee and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Harmeet Desai, U-23 World Championships silver and gold medallist Shivani Pawar, and Commonwealth Championship and World Cadet Championship gold medallist Rahul Mann.
Simultaneously in New Delhi, the 89th edition was celebrated at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium with a special Teachers' Day theme, honoring the contribution of teachers and coaches. Approximately one thousand students, youth, and fitness enthusiasts participated in this edition, which was graced by Fit India Champion Monica Bhola, Yoga Instructor & Fit India Ambassador Monika Sharma, and International Athletics Coach Hav. Sanjay Singh.
The Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat. The cycling drive is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, including at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence, and Khelo India Centres. Over 6000 NAMO Fit India clubs also organize the cycling initiative nationwide every week.