SSC
The Hockey India League (HIL) was started in:
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Answer: Option C — 2013
Detailed Solution
The Hockey India League (HIL) is a professional franchise-based field hockey league in India, organised by Hockey India. Its first season was held in January-February 2013.
Key facts about the HIL:
It was started to increase the popularity of hockey in India and to give Indian players the chance to play alongside top international players and coaches.
The first season (2013) had five franchise teams: Delhi Waveriders, Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Mumbai Magicians, Ranchi Rhinos and Uttar Pradesh Wizards. Ranchi Rhinos won the first title.
Teams included both Indian and foreign players, chosen through a player auction, similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in cricket.
A special rule in the HIL was that a field goal counted as two goals, to encourage open play.
The league ran for five seasons, from 2013 to 2017. It was then suspended because of scheduling conflicts with the FIH Pro League and other international events.
Hockey India relaunched the league for the 2024-25 season, which was held in Ranchi and Rourkela, with a women's competition added for the first time.
Other franchise sports leagues in India:
- Indian Premier League (cricket): 2008.
- Indian Super League (football): 2014.
- Pro Kabaddi League: 2014.
- Premier Badminton League: started in 2013 as the Indian Badminton League.
- Pro Volleyball League (Prime Volleyball League): 2019 and 2022.
- Ultimate Kho Kho: 2022.
Why not the other options?
- ✗2008 is the year the Indian Premier League (cricket) began.
- ✗2014 is the year both the Indian Super League (football) and the Pro Kabaddi League began.
- ✗2019 is the year the Pro Volleyball League began.
Quick tip
Remember: Hockey India League = started 2013 (Ranchi Rhinos first champions), suspended after 2017, revived 2024-25; IPL = 2008; ISL and Pro Kabaddi = 2014.
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Sports — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Sports, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers sports GK: major tournaments and their venues, trophies and cups associated with each sport, sports terms, the number of players in a team, sports awards in India, Olympic and Asian Games facts, and famous sportspersons and their achievements. Common questions ask which sport a trophy belongs to (such as the Durand Cup for football or the Ranji Trophy for cricket), which term is used in which sport, and where a tournament was held. Records and results change after every season, so pair static facts such as team sizes and terms with recent results from current affairs. Practise the sports questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.