The National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025, held in Mumbai, was a significant milestone in India’s burgeoning fitness and wellness movement under the Fit India Mission.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, felicitated the newly appointed Fit India Icons, Bollywood Producer Rohit Shetty, World Cup-winning cricketer Harbhajan Singh, and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, at the National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025, held today at The Trident in Mumbai. The colloquium recognised India’s rising fitness and wellness movement as part of the Fit India Mission, taking a critical step towards creating a Fit and Viksit Bharat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the Fit India Movement on August 29, 2019, with the goal of making fitness a part of daily life and encouraging people to live more active lives. The objective is to encourage behavioural change towards regular physical exercise. It aims to make exercise simple, enjoyable, and free; increase awareness through campaigns; encourage indigenous sports; and bring fitness to every school, college, village, and community. The initiative also allows residents to share fitness tales and motivate others to live a better, fitter life in India.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, honoured Saiyami Kher, Shivoham, and Vrinda Bhatt as Fit India Icons, recognising their contributions to promoting health and wellbeing across communities. Union Sports Minister Dr. Mandaviya also honoured Ankur Garg, Fit India Champions Karan Tacker, Vishwas Patil, and Krishna Prakash as Fit India Ambassadors for their ongoing endeavours to inspire citizens to embrace fitness as a way of life.
During the event, the Union Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, said, “If we do not understand the value of fitness, it will not be possible to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Times have changed. In earlier days, people travelled on foot and cycled to distant places. Fitness happened naturally. In a digital world, we hardly move and don’t care about fitness. We have to find ways to break that.”
“Only if the middle class and upper middle class give priority to fitness will we grow faster as a nation. No other economy in the world is growing at 8% annually. Imagine what fitness can do to India where 65% of the population is below the age of 35. Fitness is not only about health. It is integral to business as well. There is a huge market for sports goods. I can see how the awareness towards sports is changing. If we can harness sports science and produce nutrition supplements and fitness equipment in India, the sports fitness industry will stand to gain immensely.”
Smt. Raksha Khadse said, “India is an emerging nation in sports. The opportunities in the fitness world are immense. It is necessary that the entire ecosystem comes together and works towards a fitter India. Sundays on Cycle is a small effort but the results can be great in the long run. India’s all-round growth is clearly related to physical and mental growth.”
Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal said, “Fitness is related to sports culture. Look at China and Japan. Their excellent results in global competitions are a result of the fitness culture. In India, this is changing. There is a lot of talent but there is no short cut to success. Parents need to understand that and be patient. Pay attention to fitness first and excellence will come with hard work. Also, keep that mobile phone away and be strict with your child.”
World Cup cricket champion Harbhajan Singh said, “India often lost matches due to a lack of fitness. All credit to Virat Kohli for changing that mindset. We always had the skills but Indian cricketers are now superbly fit. They don’t drop catches anymore and that makes a difference. Eat right, rest right and work out properly and see the difference. I really appreciate the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Sports Ministry for prioritising fitness.”
Participants in the two panel discussions on fitness culture and the fitness sector generally agreed that fitness culture must begin at a young age, and that parents have a role in preventing children from becoming addicted to mobile phones. Experts advised care against fraudulent supplements, incorrect advice on how to grow a strong body rapidly, and food apps that sell junk food.
The event highlighted India’s rapidly rising fitness economy and its enormous commercial possibilities. With increased awareness, there is ample opportunity for companies in sports science, wellness technology, and local manufacturing. Integrating exercise into schools, companies, and communities will result in a robust ecosystem that supports sports tourism and digital health. With a young population, the Fit India Movement has the potential to fuel a fit and healthy Bharat by 2047.
