Passage-based Reading Comprehension Questions for CLAT 2026

Kho kho is not, by any stretch of imagination, among the world’s most popular sports. Even in India, where the game is said to have originated several centuries ago, it has not yet caught the imagination. Not many would have noticed India winning the men’s and women’s titles at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi on Sunday.

Pratik Waikar’s men and Priyanka Ingle’s women flourished but their collective achievements should not be cause to gloss over the fact that kho kho is not a global sport yet. Indeed, the conduct of the World Cup and India winning both the titles could offer a boost to this particular game with a rural heart. Since India is not really a major power in international sport at large, any world title is a welcome addition to the not-so-overflowing cupboard.

There are, of course, a few sports in which India is a superpower, such as cricket and chess. Indian cricket may be going through its lowest phase in recent times — notwithstanding the triumph in the T20 World Cup last year — but in the mind game on 64 squares, India’s Grandmasters have been authoring one success story after another, the latest being D. Gukesh winning the World chess championship and Koneru Humpy regaining the women’s World rapid championship.

India’s brilliant minds, however, have not received the acclaim or support they deserve, especially after their historic double gold at the Chess Olympiad back in September, from the government or corporate houses.

The government could do a lot to raise the profile of games such as kho kho, chess and Olympic disciplines. The disappointment at the Paris Olympics last year, where India failed to win even a single gold and finished 71st, below Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, was another stark reminder of the state of Indian sport.

India won six medals but its performance was below expectations. India’s various sports federations need to review their own functioning. And they could, in fact, learn lessons from how the Board of Control for Cricket in India, for all the criticism directed against it, is running its sport, improving infrastructure and sharing the growth in revenue with players.

India may largely be a single-sport country, unlike the United States or Australia, but a game such as kabaddi, with its Pro Kabaddi League, has shown that there is scope for Indian sport on television beyond cricket. The governments, at the Centre and the States, could also do better by developing infrastructure and nurturing varied sport such as kho kho. It is also time to find out if Khelo India is justifying the huge budgetary spend.

A) Lack of government support
B) Its rural origins
C) Lack of imagination from players
D) Limited international participation

Correct Answer: D) Limited international participation
Explanation: The passage highlights that Kho Kho is not a global sport yet, as evidenced by the limited international participation and its conduct primarily within India.

A) Kabaddi
B) Kho Kho
C) Chess
D) Cricket

Correct Answer: B) Kho Kho
Explanation: The passage refers to Kho Kho as a game “with a rural heart,” emphasizing its traditional and rural roots.

A) Struggling to produce new talents
B) A superpower in the game
C) Dependent on corporate sponsorship
D) Ignored by global chess bodies

Correct Answer: B) A superpower in the game
Explanation: The passage states that India is a superpower in chess, highlighting achievements like D. Gukesh’s and Koneru Humpy’s recent successes.

A) Chess
B) Kabaddi
C) Kho Kho
D) Hockey

Correct Answer: B) Kabaddi
Explanation: The passage cites the success of the Pro Kabaddi League as proof that there is scope for sports other than cricket to succeed on television.

5. Which recent initiative is questioned in the passage for its effectiveness in justifying the budget spent?

A) Make in India
B) Digital India
C) Khelo India
D) Fit India Movement

Correct Answer: C) Khelo India
Explanation: The passage raises concerns about whether the Khelo India initiative is delivering results proportional to its large budgetary allocation.

A) It is adequate and consistent
B) It needs improvement and recognition
C) It focuses only on women players
D) It prioritizes chess over other sports

Correct Answer: B) It needs improvement and recognition
Explanation: The passage points out that India’s chess achievements, such as the double gold at the Chess Olympiad, have not received the acclaim or support they deserve from the government or corporate houses.

A) Poor infrastructure
B) Limited government support
C) Lack of corporate funding
D) Inadequate coaching facilities

Correct Answer: D) Inadequate coaching facilities
Explanation: The passage discusses poor infrastructure, limited government support, and lack of corporate funding but does not specifically mention inadequate coaching facilities as a reason for India’s struggles in sports.

8. What does the passage suggest about the Pro Kabaddi League?

A) It has failed to gain popularity in rural areas.
B) It proves Indian sports can thrive on television beyond cricket.
C) It lacks support from the government and corporate sponsors.
D) It is the only sports league to rival cricket in India.

Correct Answer: B) It proves Indian sports can thrive on television beyond cricket.
Explanation: The passage mentions the Pro Kabaddi League as evidence that Indian sports can succeed on television beyond cricket, showing the potential for diverse sports.

9. How does the author describe India’s cricket performance in recent times?

A) It is at its peak with consistent victories.
B) It is going through a low phase despite recent triumphs.
C) It is overshadowed by the success of other sports.
D) It is declining due to poor management by BCCI.

Correct Answer: B) It is going through a low phase despite recent triumphs.
Explanation: The passage states that Indian cricket is experiencing a low phase, despite the T20 World Cup triumph last year, indicating inconsistency in performance.

A) Indian sport is progressing well across disciplines.
B) India’s focus should remain on cricket and chess.
C) India needs reforms in sports infrastructure and management.
D) India is not capable of competing globally in sports.

Correct Answer: C) India needs reforms in sports infrastructure and management.
Explanation: The author emphasizes the need for better infrastructure, government support, and lessons from the BCCI to uplift Indian sports across disciplines.