26 February 2026·PIB

“Through Sports, Jammu & Kashmir Is Writing a New Chapter of Progress and Possibility”: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya at 6th Khelo India Winter Games Closing Ceremony

In this note

1. At a Glance

6th Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 closed on 26 Feb 2026 at Gulmarg, J&K; Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced Gulmarg's elevation into a global winter sports hub and a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in J&K [1][2].
Flagship vertical of the Khelo India scheme under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS); aimed at mainstreaming winter-sports talent and dovetailing sport with tourism + Fit India in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh [1][2].
UPSC relevance: sports diplomacy/soft power, J&K post-Art 370 development narrative, GS-II governance, GS-III infrastructure & tourism.

On 26 Feb 2026, Mandaviya at the closing ceremony of the Gulmarg leg announced (a) 15-day Winter Sports Festival integrating tourism, culture and Fit India; (b) establishment of an NCoE in J&K; and (c) Gulmarg's vision as a global winter-sports hub [1][2].
His remark "From Patharbaji to Skiing" framed the Games as a security-to-sport transition narrative for the Kashmir Valley [1].

Khelo India Programme launched 2017–18 by MYAS; restructured to cover infrastructure, talent ID, KIUG, KIYG and KIWG [3].
1st KIWG: inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju in Leh, March 2020 [4].
2nd KIWG: Gulmarg, Feb–Mar 2021, opened by PM Modi virtually [5].
5th KIWG (2025): Gulmarg; Army won title with 18 medals (7G/5S/6B) [2].
6th KIWG (2026): two-leg format — Leh ice leg, 20–26 Jan 2026; Gulmarg snow leg, 23–26 Feb 2026 [3][6].

Implementing ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (Department of Sports); nodal body Sports Authority of India (SAI) [3].
Host UTs (2026): Jammu & Kashmir (Gulmarg) and Ladakh (Leh) [3].
Leh leg venues: NDS Stadium, Gupukh Pond, Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre rink [3].
Disciplines — Leh (ice): ice hockey, ice skating, ice stock; Figure Skating debuted in 2026 [3].
Disciplines — Gulmarg (snow): Alpine Skiing, Nordic (Cross-Country) Skiing, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding (4 medal disciplines) [1][3].
Participation: 1,060 participants incl. 480 athletes in Leh leg; ~400 athletes in Gulmarg; 19 States/UTs in fray [3].
Defending overall champion (KIWG 2025): Services / Indian Army [2].
New announcement: NCoE in J&K + 15-day Winter Sports Festival at Gulmarg [1].

Economic

Winter-sports tourism multiplier for Gulmarg; bundling with Swadesh Darshan/PRASHAD tourism circuits [1].
Job creation in coaching, hospitality, snow-grooming, equipment rental ecosystems [1].

Social

Mandaviya's "Patharbaji to Skiing" framing positions sport as alternative livelihood/peace-building in Kashmir Valley [1].
Inclusion of remote Ladakhi youth via Leh leg; figure-skating debut widens women's participation pipeline [3].

Strategic / Geopolitical

Hosting in Gulmarg & Leh projects normalcy post Art 370 abrogation (Aug 2019) and signals development of border UTs [1].
Soft-power optics: pitching Gulmarg as "global hub" invites international federations/tourists; potential bid base for future winter multi-sport events [1].

Administrative / Federal

Coordination between MYAS, SAI, UT administrations of J&K & Ladakh, Indian Army, BRO (snow clearance/logistics) — federal cooperative model [1][3].
NCoE establishment to plug winter-sports gap (existing NCoEs are largely summer-sport focused) [1].

Cultural / Health

Integration with Fit India Movement (launched 29 Aug 2019) and local culture via 15-day festival [1].

5th KIWG: held 2025, Gulmarg — Army topped tally [2].
Jan 20–26, 2026: Leh leg of 6th KIWG with Figure Skating debut [3].
Feb 23–26, 2026: Gulmarg snow leg [6].
26 Feb 2026: NCoE in J&K and 15-day Winter Sports Festival announced at closing ceremony [1].

6th KIWG closing ceremony held at Gulmarg on 26 Feb 2026 [1].
KIWG 2026 used a two-leg format: Leh (ice) + Gulmarg (snow) [3].
Leh leg dates: 20–26 January 2026; Gulmarg leg: 23–26 February 2026 [3][6].
Leh venues included NDS Stadium, Gupukh Pond, Ladakh Scouts Regimental Centre rink [3].
Figure Skating made its KIWG debut in 2026 [3].
Gulmarg featured 4 snow disciplines: Alpine, Nordic Cross-Country, Ski Mountaineering, Snowboarding [3].
19 States/UTs participated; 1,060 participants in Leh leg incl. 480 athletes [3].
1st KIWG: Leh, March 2020, inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju [4].
Khelo India scheme launched in 2017-18 under MYAS [3].
NCoE in J&K announced at 6th KIWG closing — a first dedicated winter-sports excellence centre [1].
Services/Army were defending champions from KIWG 2025 with 18 medals [2].
Closing ceremony slogan: "From Patharbaji to Skiing" [1].
15-day Winter Sports Festival at Gulmarg integrates tourism, culture, Fit India [1].

GS-II: Government policies & interventions — "Sports as a tool of inclusive development in J&K and Ladakh post-2019."
GS-III: Infrastructure/Tourism — "Critically examine the potential of Gulmarg as a global winter sports hub; what infrastructural and ecological challenges must be addressed?"
GS-I (Society): "Can sports serve as an instrument of social transformation in conflict-affected regions? Discuss with reference to the Kashmir Valley."

KIWG ≠ KIYG (Youth Games) ≠ KIUG (University Games) — distinct verticals of Khelo India [3].
1st KIWG was at Leh (2020), NOT Gulmarg — Gulmarg hosted from 2nd edition [4][5].
Ministry is Youth Affairs & Sports, NOT Tourism, though Gulmarg festival bundles tourism [1].
Khelo India scheme year is 2017-18, not 2014 (often confused with Make in India era) [3].
Figure Skating debuted at KIWG only in 2026 — not since inception [3].