The 5th edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held in seven cities of Rajasthan from November 24th to December 5th, 2025. The competition will feature 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport (Kho-Kho). Over 5,000 athletes are expected to participate in the 12-day event, which will take place in Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur. Beach volleyball, canoeing, kayaking, and cycling are being introduced to the KIUG program for the first time. Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya views KIUG as a "stepping stone to glory" and highlights the importance of universities in shaping champions. The Khelo India Scheme, a flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, serves as a platform for talent spotting and development. 20 editions of the Khelo India Games have been conducted across the country with seven editions of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), four editions of Khelo India University Games, five editions of Khelo India Winter Games, and two editions of Khelo India Para Games, one edition of Khelo India Beach Games, and one edition of Khelo India Water Sports Festival. The release was published on October 16, 2025, at 5:34 PM by PIB Delhi. (Release ID: 2179967) Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander are the contact persons.
Key Entities Referenced
Khelo India Scheme: Flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports for talent identification and development in sports.
Khelo India University Games (KIUG): A national-level multi-sport event held in India for university students, aiming to promote sports at the university level and identify potential athletes.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The ministry responsible for the Khelo India Scheme and overall promotion of sports and youth affairs.
Rajasthan: The state where the fifth edition of Khelo India University Games will be held.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan from
November 24 - December 05; Sports Minister Dr.
Mansukh Mandaviya says KIUG ‘stepping stone to
glory’
Beach Volleyball, Canoeing and Kayaking, Cycling
and Kho-Kho to Feature for the First Time at the 5th
Khelo India University Games
Posted On: 16 OCT 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi
The fifth edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held in seven cities of Rajasthan from
th th
November 24 to December 5 , 2025. Competition will be held in 23 medal sports and one demonstration
sport (kho-kho).
Like the Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar earlier this year, the University Games too will be spread across
seven cities– Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur. More than 5,000 athletes are
expected to take part in the 12-day University meet.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, said “The
Khelo India University Games are a crucial link in India’s sporting pathway. Across the world, universities
play a vital role in shaping champions, and KIUG provides our young athletes a platform to showcase their
ability at a national level. The Rajasthan edition will highlight India’s expanding sporting landscape and will
be a stepping stone to glory for many who aspire to represent the nation globally.”
Elaborating further, Dr. Mandaviya said “Under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Khelo India
initiative has created a robust ecosystem that encourages participation, talent development, and excellence.
The University Games in Rajasthan will inspire thousands of students to pursue sports alongside academics
and strengthen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ through competition and camaraderie.”
In KIUG 2025, there will be 23 medal sports and one demonstration discipline. The medal sports include
archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, fencing, football, hockey, judo, kabaddi, mallakhamb,
rugby, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, yogasana, cycling, beach
volleyball, canoeing and kayaking.
Kho-kho will be a demonstration event. For the first time, beach volleyball, canoeing and kayaking, and
cycling are being introduced in the KIUG programme.
In the last Khelo India University Games held in North-east India, Chandigarh University emerged
champions. Lovely Professional University and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar finished second and
third, respectively.
ABOUT KHELO INDIA
The Khelo India Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Khelo India Games are the basic platform to showcase sporting skills and, accordingly, become a platform for
talent spotting and providing development pathways for gifted and talented children to achieve excellence.
These National-level competitions are being organized in the true spirit of the Olympic Movement byassociating various stakeholders like concerned National Sports Federations, School Games Federation of
India, Association of Indian Universities, etc. Under this programme so far, 20 editions of Khelo India Games
have been conducted across the country with seven editions of Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), four
editions of Khelo India University Games, five editions of Khelo India Winter Games, and two editions of
Khelo India Para Games, one edition of Khelo India Beach Games, and one edition of Khelo India Water
Sports Festival.
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Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander
(Release ID: 2179967)