Chess originated in India over 1500 years ago during the Gupta Empire, where it was known as Chaturanga. The game was a battle simulation that represented the four divisions of the military - infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots, which later evolved into the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook. The All India Chess Federation is the governing body for chess in India, and the sport has risen in popularity in the country in the last few decades primarily due to chess Grandmaster and former 5-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand.

Chess has a rich history in India, with the first National Champion being Ramchandra Sapre in 1955, the first Indian International Master being Manuel Aaron in 1961, and the first Indian Grandmaster being Viswanathan Anand in 1988. The country has also produced the first Indian Women's Grandmaster, Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, in 2001. India has participated in the Chess Olympiad since 1956 and hosted the 14th Blind Chess Olympiad in Chennai in 2012. The country has also produced the youngest Indian Grandmaster, R Praggnanandhaa, at the age of 12 in 2018.

India has also produced several world-class chess players, including Viswanathan Anand, Koneru Humpy, Nihal Sarin, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, who are ranked among the top players in the world in their respective categories. The country has also hosted several international chess tournaments, including the World Chess Championship and the Asian Chess Championship.

Chess has a rich history and tradition in India, with the game evolving from Chaturanga to its modern form. The country has produced several world-class chess players and has hosted several international tournaments, making it a significant contributor to the global chess community.