Khelo India Games: History, Sports List, Editions, and Disciplines

What are the Khelo India Games?

The Khelo India Games are national-level, annual multi-sport competitions organised under the Khelo India Programme by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. Their primary objective is to identify, nurture, and develop sporting talent at the grassroots level by providing young athletes with structured exposure to high-level competition.

The Games are conducted in multiple formats, including the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games, Winter Games, Para Games, and Beach Games, ensuring participation across age groups, educational institutions, and abilities. Athletes selected through the Khelo India framework may receive financial assistance, coaching, training support, and access to sports infrastructure as part of long-term athlete development initiatives. In addition to Olympic sports, the Games also include indigenous and traditional Indian disciplines, promoting sporting diversity and strengthening a sustained talent pipeline for national and international competitions.

History of Khelo India Games

The Khelo India initiative was introduced by the Government of India in 2017 as a consolidated national programme to revive sports culture and strengthen grassroots talent development. Announced in the Union Budget 2017–18, it brought multiple earlier sports development efforts under a single structured framework.

The first Khelo India School Games were held in 2018, marking the beginning of regular national-level competitions under the Khelo India banner. As the programme evolved, its scope expanded to include the Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games, creating structured competitive pathways across age groups and educational institutions.

To address regional and climatic diversity, the Khelo India Winter Games were introduced after 2019, focusing on snow and ice sports in the Himalayan states and union territories. In 2023, the launch of the Khelo India Para Games further broadened participation, reinforcing the programme’s inclusive approach to sports development in India. The Khelo India Beach Games, launched in 2023, expanded the programme by promoting beach and open-terrain sports across India’s coastal regions.

Read More: Khelo India Winter Games 2026

Types of Khelo India Games

To cater to athletes at different stages of their sporting journey, the Khelo India Games are organised in multiple formats, each designed with a specific age group, competitive level, and developmental objective in mind. This structured approach ensures continuity in athlete development from the grassroots to higher levels of competition.

1. Khelo India Youth Games

The Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) are aimed at young athletes competing in defined age categories, typically under-18 or under-21, depending on the sport. These Games primarily focus on school-going and junior-level athletes and serve as one of the earliest national platforms for talent identification. By bringing together top performers from state-level competitions, the Youth Games help identify promising athletes who can be guided through systematic training and long-term development programmes. Many participants from these Games progress to national camps and higher competitive circuits.

2. Khelo India University Games

The Khelo India University Games (KIUG) are exclusively designed for university-level athletes across India. This format plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between youth competitions and elite or professional sports. It allows student-athletes to continue competing at a high level while pursuing higher education, ensuring that academic commitments do not hinder sporting careers. The University Games strengthen inter-university competition and contribute to a more structured collegiate sports ecosystem in the country.

3. Khelo India Winter Games

The Khelo India Winter Games focus specifically on winter and snow-based sports, providing a national competitive platform for disciplines that require cold-climate conditions. These Games are hosted in snow-bound regions such as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, where natural terrain supports winter sports development. Events typically include skiing, ice hockey, snowboarding, and skating, helping promote regional talent and develop winter sports infrastructure in India.

4. Khelo India Para Games

The Khelo India Para Games provide a dedicated national platform for para-athletes, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. These Games enable athletes with disabilities to compete in organised, high-level competitions across various sports disciplines. By integrating para sports into the broader Khelo India framework, the initiative supports talent identification, competitive exposure, and the overall growth of para sports in India.

5. Khelo India Beach Games

The Khelo India Beach Games are designed to promote beach and open-terrain sports by leveraging India’s extensive coastline. This format provides athletes with a national platform to compete in disciplines such as beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach soccer, and other coastal sports. By expanding the programme beyond traditional indoor and field sports, the Beach Games help diversify sporting opportunities and encourage regional participation from coastal states and union territories.

How Many Sports Disciplines Are There in Khelo India Games?

A common question among sports enthusiasts is how many sports disciplines are included in the Khelo India Games. The answer varies by edition, format, and host state, as the Games are designed to remain flexible and inclusive.

1. Each edition of the Khelo India Games typically features 20 to 30 sports disciplines.
2. The final sports list is decided based on athlete participation levels, available infrastructure, and regional sporting strengths.

The disciplines included generally fall into three broad categories:

1. Olympic sports
   
   • Athletics, swimming, boxing, wrestling, badminton, and hockey
   • These sports form a core part of India’s long-term high-performance development pathway
     
2. Popular team sports
   
   • Football, volleyball, basketball, and kabaddi
   • These attract strong inter-state competition and widespread grassroots participation
     
3. Indigenous and traditional Indian sports
   
   • Kho-kho, mallakhamb, and yogasana
   • These disciplines help promote cultural heritage alongside modern sports
     
4. The adaptable sports selection allows the Khelo India Games to stay relevant, regionally inclusive, and development-focused across different editions.

Khelo India Games List (Year-wise Editions)

Since their inception, the Khelo India Games have been organised across different states and union territories to ensure wider regional participation and equitable access to sports infrastructure. Each edition has contributed to expanding the programme’s national footprint while strengthening state-level sports ecosystems.

Year-wise List of Khelo India Games

1. Khelo India Games 2018 – New Delhi
   First edition held as Khelo India School Games
2. Khelo India Games 2019 – Pune, Maharashtra
   Expanded participation and a broader range of sports disciplines
3. Khelo India Games 2020 – Guwahati, Assam
   Khelo India Youth Games hosted in the Northeast, highlighting regional inclusion
4. Khelo India Games 2021 – Disrupted due to COVID-19
   Events postponed and rescheduled in subsequent cycles
5. Khelo India Games 2022 – Haryana
   Return to full-scale national competition after the pandemic
6. Khelo India Games 2023 – Madhya Pradesh
   Multi-city hosting across the state to maximise regional reach
7. Khelo India Games 2024 – Tamil Nadu
   Youth Games are conducted across multiple cities
8. Khelo India Youth Games 2025 – Bihar & New Delhi
   Hosted across multiple cities in Bihar with select events in New Delhi, featuring nationwide youth participation across multiple sports disciplines.

This year-wise rotation of host states enables athletes from different regions to benefit from upgraded sports facilities, improved local infrastructure, and increased state-level engagement.

Latest Updates on Khelo India Games 2026

The following updates are based strictly on official announcements and information available for 2026 under the Khelo India Programme. Where no confirmed information has been released, the same has been clearly stated.

Khelo India Winter Games 2026

1. The 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games is being held in Leh, Ladakh, and Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir.
2. Ice sports competitions, including ice hockey and ice skating, commenced from 20 January 2026 at venues such as Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium, Gupukh Pond, and the Army Rink in Leh.
3. Snow sports events, including alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, snowboarding, and Nordic skiing, are scheduled to be conducted in Gulmarg later in the season.
4. The Games continue to focus on promoting winter sports and competitive opportunities in India’s cold-climate regions.

Khelo India Beach Games 2026

1. The 2nd edition of the Khelo India Beach Games was scheduled from 5 to 10 January 2026 in Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
2. The event includes multiple beach sports disciplines and marks an expansion of the Khelo India programme into coastal and open-terrain sporting formats.

Khelo India University Games 2026

As of now, no official dates or announcements have been published on the Khelo India website or by the government for the University Games 2026. The most recent confirmed edition was the 2025 event. If and when the 2026 schedule is announced by the Ministry of Sports Authority of India, it will be updated.

Khelo India Para Games 2026

Similarly, no official 2026 Para Games dates or details have been released yet on kheloindia.gov.in or related government portals. The latest completed editions remain those held in previous years. Any official announcement for 2026 will be included when published.

How to Participate in Khelo India Games

Participation in the Khelo India Games follows a structured selection process, designed to identify talent through recognised institutions and competitions rather than open registrations.

Step 1: Check Eligibility Criteria

1. Eligibility is sport-specific and edition-specific, with age limits notified separately for each Games.
2. Categories include:
   • Youth Games: School-age athletes selected through state-level competitions
   • University Games: Athletes enrolled in recognised universities
   • Para Games: Athletes with benchmark disabilities, classified as per approved para-sport guidelines
   • Winter Games: Athletes selected by their respective states/UTs for winter sports disciplines

Athletes typically progress through district, state, or institutional competitions before reaching the national level.

Step 2: Selection Through States or Institutions

1. Athletes are nominated by:
   • State sports departments
   • Schools or universities
   • Recognised sports federations
2. Selection trials and shortlisting are conducted by state authorities or organising committees.

Step 3: Compete at the National Level

1. Selected athletes represent their state, university, or institution at the Khelo India Games.
2. Participants receive access to certified coaching, competition exposure, and development support under the Khelo India framework.

Conclusion

The Khelo India Games have emerged as a cornerstone of India’s grassroots sports development. By providing young athletes with structured competition, access to quality coaching, and exposure at the national level, the Games help turn potential into performance. Their inclusive formats, spanning youth, university, winter, and para sports, ensure wider participation across regions and abilities. As the programme continues to grow, the Khelo India Games remain vital to strengthening India’s sporting culture and building a strong pipeline of athletes for future national and international success.

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