National Inter District Junior Athletics Meet Under-16
by Athletics Federation of India
National junior medal
National district-entry athletics meet for Under-16 boys and girls, contested across ten individual track, jump, throw and combined events.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Multi-day national finale preceded by district-level qualifying rounds across the country
Eligibility
Open to Under-16 boys and girls nationwide who are selected by their district athletics association. Under-16 athletes must be under 16 at the meet. AFI fixes an exact two-year date-of-birth window for the category in each edition's circular and verifies it on site. Original proof of date of birth is compulsory and age is verified at the venue.
- Age range
- 14 to 16 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Prerequisites
- Falling within the Under-16 age category as defined by AFI for the season
- Registration through the AFI online registration process for NIDJAM
- Qualification through the district stage to be eligible for the national finale
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
National junior medals
Medals are awarded to the top finishers in each Under-16 event at the national finale.
Recognition
National junior recognition
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Register online through the AFI NIDJAM portal during the announced registration window
- 2Compete at the district-level NIDJAM stage as scheduled by the local AFI affiliate
- 3Qualify for the national finale based on performance at the district stage
- 4Travel to the announced national finale venue and compete in the listed events
Rules and guidelines
- Athletes must compete in the events for which they are registered within their age category
- All entries are administered through the AFI NIDJAM online registration
- Progression to the national finale is contingent on district-stage performance
- Standard AFI track and field rules apply across all events
About this opportunity
The National Inter District Junior Athletics Meet, known as NIDJAM, is the Athletics Federation of India's national meet entered through district athletics associations rather than through schools or clubs. This document covers the Under-16 category, which is entered, contested and medalled entirely on its own.
Athletes reach the national meet by competing first at the district level, and only those selected by their district association go forward. AFI provides free boarding and lodging at the meet for a capped squad from each district, which keeps the meet open to athletes whose families could not otherwise fund national travel.
Under-16 athletes enter one event each, and a district may enter at most two athletes in the same event. The programme is 80m, 600m, 1600m, 80m Hurdles at 0.838m for boys and 0.762m for girls, High Jump with the fosbury flop not allowed, Long Jump off a 5 metre runway only, Shot Put as a standing throw at 4kg for boys and 3kg for girls, Discus Throw at 1kg as a standing throw, Javelin Throw at 600g for boys and 500g for girls, and a Hexathlon of six events across two days.
Age is checked at the venue by the AFI Age Verification Committee, which includes doctors, and original proof of date of birth is compulsory. An athlete found to be overage is disqualified. The meet is the federation's principal route for finding athletes early and moving them up the AFI age-group ladder.
Rounds and format
Athletes first compete at the district level. Top performers from the district rounds advance to the multi-day national finale where category-wise medals are awarded.
How entries are judged
Results are decided by objective measurement under the competition rules AFI applies, with no subjective judging. Track events are decided on time and the fastest athlete wins. Jumps and throws are decided on the best legal attempt, and at this meet the throws are standing throws only. The Under-16 hexathlon is decided on an athlete's aggregate across its six component events. Age is a separate condition of winning: the AFI Age Verification Committee checks every athlete before competition, and an athlete found to be overage is disqualified and loses the meet's travel, food and accommodation support.
Selection process
Performance at the district-level NIDJAM stage determines progression to the national finale.
Frequently asked questions
What is NIDJAM and who organises it?
NIDJAM is the National Inter District Junior Athletics Meet for the Under-14 and Under-16 categories, conducted annually since 2003 by the Athletics Federation of India with support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
How does the qualification path work?
Athletes first compete at the district stage, which is held across more than five hundred districts of the country. Leading performers at the district stage advance to the multi-day national finale where category medals are awarded.
Which age categories and events are contested?
This document covers the Under-16 category of the meet. Recent editions have included events such as 60m, 600m, 80m hurdles, long jump, high jump, javelin throw, shot put, triathlon, and pentathlon, alongside other AFI-sanctioned junior track and field events.
How is registration handled for NIDJAM 2026?
Direct online registration is administered by AFI on the NIDJAM portal during the announced window. Athletes and parents can monitor the AFI website for the 2026 registration link, district schedule, and finale details.
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