20 January 2026·PIB

Sports minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulates Ladakh for showing capability to host Khelo India Winter Games

In this note

1. At a Glance

Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) is the winter sub-vertical of the flagship Khelo India Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) [3][4].
The 6th edition (KIWG 2026) opened at Leh (Ladakh) on 20 January 2026, with a separate snow leg at Gulmarg, J&K in February 2026 [1][2].
Relevance: tests UPSC aspirants on sports schemes, federal hosting (UT Ladakh, UT J&K), and India's Olympic pipeline (figure skating added as Olympic discipline) [1].

20 Jan 2026 — Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Ladakh for hosting the Leh leg; opened by Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta at Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium, Leh [1].
Figure skating introduced for the first time in the ice-skating programme [1].
Gulmarg leg dates announced: 23–26 February 2026 [2].

Khelo India launched in 2016–17 by MYAS to revive grassroots sports culture [4].
1st KIWG: Leh, Ladakh, 2020 — inaugurated by then-Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju [2].
2nd KIWG: 2021 (virtually inaugurated by PM Modi) [2].
3rd KIWG: Gulmarg, 2023, opened by Anurag Thakur [2].
Scheme extended 2021-22 to 2025-26 with outlay ₹3,790.50 crore [4].
Union Budget 2026–27 announced launch of Khelo India Mission; ₹500 cr earmarked for sports goods manufacturing [4].

Parent scheme: Khelo India – Central Sector Scheme [4].
Ministry: Youth Affairs & Sports (Dept. of Sports) [3][4].
Edition: 6th KIWG (2026) [1].
Two legs: Leh (ice sports, 20–26 Jan 2026) + Gulmarg (snow sports, 23–26 Feb 2026) [1][2].
Participants (Leh): ~1,060 total; 472 athletes in ice events [1][2].
Leh disciplines: Ice Skating (incl. Figure Skating – new), Ice Hockey [1].
Gulmarg disciplines (4): Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing (Cross-Country), Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding [2].
Venues (Leh): NDS Stadium, Army rink, frozen Gupukh's Pond [2].
Ladakh's 3rd time hosting KIWG [1].
Budget 2026–27 allocation to Khelo India: ₹924.35 crore [4].

Administrative / Federal: Hosted across two Union Territories (Ladakh, J&K) directly administered by Centre; co-organised by MYAS, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Ladakh Sports Council, and J&K Sports Council [1][2].
Economic: Boosts winter tourism in Leh/Gulmarg; complements ₹500 cr sports goods manufacturing push in Budget 2026–27 [4].
Geopolitical / Strategic: Hosting at Leh (sensitive border UT) projects sovereignty and integration post-Article 370 abrogation (2019); Army rink usage shows civil-military synergy [1][2].
Scientific / Sporting: Figure skating addition aligns Indian winter sports talent pipeline with Winter Olympic disciplines [1].
Social: Promotes participation from Himalayan states (Ladakh, J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Arunachal, Sikkim) and tribal regions [2].

KIWG 2026 is the 6th edition [1].
1st KIWG held in Leh, 2020 [2].
Leh leg opened by LG Kavinder Gupta of UT Ladakh [1].
Figure skating debuted at KIWG in 2026 [1].
KIWG 2026 Leh venue: Nawang Dorjan Stobdan Stadium [1].
Gulmarg leg: 23–26 Feb 2026, four snow disciplines [2].
Khelo India launched 2016–17; Central Sector Scheme under MYAS [4].
Khelo India outlay 2021-22 to 2025-26: ₹3,790.50 crore [4].
Budget 2026–27 allocation: ₹924.35 crore; new Khelo India Mission announced [4].
Leh leg athletes: 472 across skating & ice hockey [2].
Total participants Leh leg: ~1,060 [1].
Ladakh hosting KIWG for the third time [1].

GS-II: Government policies & interventions — schemes for sports development; Centre–UT relations.
GS-III: Inclusive growth — sports infrastructure in Himalayan/border regions.
Possible stems: 1. "Khelo India Winter Games have transformed border UTs into hubs of winter sports tourism." Discuss. 2. Evaluate the role of the Khelo India scheme in building India's Olympic pipeline. 3. How does hosting national games in Ladakh and J&K serve strategic and developmental objectives?

Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) — summer counterpart.
National Sports Policy / Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 — overarching framework.
TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) — elite athlete funding.
Sports Authority of India (SAI) — implementing arm.
Fit India Movement — complementary mass-participation drive.
Article 370 abrogation & UT reorganisation (2019) — context for Ladakh/J&K UT status.
National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 — sports governance.
Winter Olympics & IOA — India's international winter sports footprint.

KIWG is a separate vertical from Khelo India Youth/University Games — don't conflate.
Khelo India is a Central Sector Scheme (not Centrally Sponsored) under MYAS.
1st KIWG was in Leh (2020), not Gulmarg — Gulmarg hosted from the 3rd edition.
Ministry is Youth Affairs & Sports, not "Sports Ministry" alone — combined portfolio.
Ladakh is a UT without legislature; J&K is a UT with legislature — different governance.