The Youth Resources and Sports Department, Government of Nagaland, has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Silver Award for its Grassroots Football Festival (Baby League), in recognition of its efforts to promote grassroots sports development and encourage sporting participation among children in the State. The SKOCH Award is a nationally recognised honour that acknowledges excellence in governance, innovation and public service delivery, recognising impactful initiatives contributing to socio-economic development. Launched in June 2024, the Grassroots Football Festival (Baby League) is an annual initiative aimed at introducing children to football at an early age and fostering a sporting culture at the grassroots level. The programme provides children aged 5 to 12 years with opportunities to participate in organised football activities in a fun, engaging and inclusive environment.

The festival features age-appropriate, small-sided football matches across four categories: 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-10 years and 11-12 years.  Emphasising participation, enjoyment, learning and overall child development rather than conventional competition, the initiative also enables coaches to observe young players, identify emerging talent and encourage their continued involvement in sports. Since its inception, the programme has witnessed encouraging growth in participation, with the number of children increasing from approximately 142 in an earlier edition to around 420 in its third edition held in 2026. The initiative also received national recognition when Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Nagaland’s grassroots football efforts during his Mann Ki Baat address in June 2026, acknowledging the importance of encouraging sports participation among young children.