From your district
to the world

District and zone rounds pick school teams and athletes for the state inter-district school games, which in turn select state teams for the SGFI National School Games.

Who can enter

School students in under-14, under-17 and under-19 age groups

Organiser

State school games bodies affiliated to SGFI, through district units

Placing in the top three at a district championship can make an athlete eligible for SAI training-centre selection trials and for state championships.

Who can enter

Registered athletes of the district, often in sub-junior, junior and senior age groups

Organiser

District units of state sports associations

School and village rounds lead to taluka and district rounds, whose winners go on to zonal and state finals.

Who can enter

Residents, students and veterans of Gujarat, in age groups from under-9 to over-60, plus para categories

Organiser

Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat

Block-level events in a few sports lead to district rounds and then state-level finals with more sports.

Who can enter

Residents of Punjab of all ages

Organiser

Directorate of Sports, Government of Punjab

District winners move on to zone and state rounds, with cash prizes at each level.

Who can enter

School and college students, the general public aged 15–35, persons with disabilities, and government employees in Tamil Nadu

Organiser

Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT)

The games run from block and district rounds to divisional and state finals across 27 sports.

Who can enter

Young athletes in Madhya Pradesh

Organiser

Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh, with state sports associations

These meets select state teams; for example, athletes must compete in their state meet to enter the AFI National Inter-State and National Open championships.

Who can enter

Registered athletes of the state, by age group

Organiser

State sports associations affiliated to national federations

District teams compete for places in the state team for the SGFI National School Games.

Who can enter

School students in under-14, under-17 and under-19 age groups who won at district level

Organiser

State school games bodies affiliated to SGFI

Districts compete for the Chief Minister's Gold Cup; the 2025 edition in Thiruvananthapuram drew about 20,000 athletes.

Who can enter

School students from Kerala's districts, including an inclusive section for children with disabilities

Organiser

General Education Department, Government of Kerala

The 2023 edition ran from 1 to 12 January 2023 and was the first in about 22 years.

Who can enter

Athletes representing Maharashtra's districts

Organiser

Maharashtra Olympic Association with the Government of Maharashtra

The 2024–25 edition (Khel Mahakumbh 3.0) covered 39 sports and 25 para-sport categories, with state finals in February and March 2025.

Who can enter

Winners of the zonal rounds in Gujarat

Organiser

Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat

State-level winners receive cash prizes as well as certificates.

Who can enter

District winners in Punjab

Organiser

Directorate of Sports, Government of Punjab

State-level individual winners in 2025 received up to ₹1 lakh.

Who can enter

Zone winners in Tamil Nadu

Organiser

Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT)

The first edition ran from 10 to 31 January 2026, with its ceremonies in Bhopal.

Who can enter

Divisional winners in Madhya Pradesh

Organiser

Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Madhya Pradesh

For example, the Paralympic Association of Arunachal held state trials in January 2025 and picked 31 athletes for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship.

Who can enter

Para athletes registered in the state

Organiser

State para sports associations affiliated to the Paralympic Committee of India

The 38th edition was held in Uttarakhand from 28 January to 14 February 2025 with about 11,000 athletes in 35 sports.

Who can enter

Teams from every state and union territory, plus the Services Sports Control Board

Organiser

Indian Olympic Association with the host state

Top performers can win Khelo India athlete support; the 7th edition was held in Bihar in May 2025.

Who can enter

Athletes under 18, picked mainly from SGFI National School Games and federation national results, plus nominations

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, with the host state

The 5th edition was held in Rajasthan from 24 November to 5 December 2025.

Who can enter

University students, roughly 18–25, who finish in the top eight at AIU inter-university events

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, with the Association of Indian Universities

The 2nd edition was held in New Delhi from 20 to 27 March 2025.

Who can enter

Para athletes selected through national para federations

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI

The 6th edition was split between Ladakh (ice sports, 20–26 January 2026) and Gulmarg (snow sports, 23–26 February 2026).

Who can enter

Winter-sport athletes from states, union territories and services teams

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, with Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir

The first edition was held at Ghoghla Beach, Diu, from 19 to 24 May 2025, with six medal sports including beach volleyball and beach soccer.

Who can enter

Athletes from states and union territories

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI

The first edition was held in Raipur, Jagdalpur and Sarguja from 25 March to 3 April 2026, with about 1,300 athletes.

Who can enter

Tribal athletes selected through national federation trials

Organiser

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and SAI, with the Government of Chhattisgarh

Each sport and age group is hosted by a different state; the 69th edition ran from late 2025 into early 2026.

Who can enter

School students in under-14, under-17 and under-19 age groups selected by state school games bodies, CBSE and other member units

Organiser

School Games Federation of India

Zonal rounds lead to all-India finals, and the top eight from these qualify for the Khelo India University Games.

Who can enter

Enrolled university and college students, from 17 to under 25

Organiser

Association of Indian Universities (AIU)

Top-four finishes at sub-junior and junior nationals are among SAI's admission criteria for its centres, and senior nationals feed national camps.

Who can enter

Athletes entered by state associations, plus services and institutional teams

Organiser

National sports federations (one per sport)

The 2026 edition, held in Ranchi from 22 to 25 May, was India's trial for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Who can enter

Senior athletes who have competed in at least two AFI calendar meets

Organiser

Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

In 2026 this meet in Bhubaneswar was the main trial for the Asian Games team.

Who can enter

State teams; athletes must have competed in three AFI calendar meets, including their state meet

Organiser

Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

A late-season national championship open to institutional teams as well as states.

Who can enter

Athletes from states and institutions such as the Services and Railways; three AFI meets including the state meet are required

Organiser

Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

AFI's grassroots talent search, where districts from across India meet in kids' events such as triathlon and pentathlon.

Who can enter

District teams of boys and girls in under-14 and under-16 age groups

Organiser

Athletics Federation of India (AFI)

The 68th edition (December 2025 to January 2026) drew over 16,000 shooters in New Delhi and Bhopal.

Who can enter

Shooters with qualifying scores from earlier national championships, zonal championships and other NRAI events

Organiser

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)

In 2026 the men's and women's championships were held together at Greater Noida; medallists are called to the national camp.

Who can enter

Boxers entered by state units and institutional teams

Organiser

Boxing Federation of India

The 15th edition was held in Jhansi in April 2025, with Hockey Punjab winning the title.

Who can enter

State member-unit teams, split into divisions

Organiser

Hockey India

Qualifying groups lead to a 12-team final round; the 79th edition's final round was held in Assam in January–February 2026.

Who can enter

Teams from state associations, plus Services and Railways

Organiser

All India Football Federation (AIFF)

The 24th edition was held at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, from 19 to 21 March 2026.

Who can enter

Para athletes entered by state associations who meet the minimum qualification standard; NSRS registration is required

Organiser

Paralympic Committee of India with the Para Athletics Federation of India

The highest level of competition in Olympic sports.

Who can enter

Athletes who meet each sport's Olympic qualification system, entered by the Indian Olympic Association

Organiser

International Olympic Committee

The highest level of competition in para sport.

Who can enter

Para athletes who meet each sport's qualification and classification rules, entered by the Paralympic Committee of India

Organiser

International Paralympic Committee

Asia's largest multi-sport games; India sent about 500 athletes to the 2026 edition.

Who can enter

Athletes selected by national federations and entered by the Indian Olympic Association

Organiser

Olympic Council of Asia

Asia's main multi-sport games for para athletes, with 18 sports in 2026.

Who can enter

Para athletes entered by the Paralympic Committee of India

Organiser

Asian Paralympic Committee

The 2030 edition marks the Games' centenary and will be India's second, after Delhi 2010.

Who can enter

Athletes from Commonwealth nations entered by the Indian Olympic Association

Organiser

Commonwealth Sport

The first Youth Olympic Games to be held in Africa.

Who can enter

Young athletes who qualify through their sport's youth qualification system

Organiser

International Olympic Committee

The main multi-sport games for student athletes.

Who can enter

University students selected through the Association of Indian Universities

Organiser

International University Sports Federation (FISU)

A regional games for South Asia that has been delayed several times since 2021.

Who can enter

Athletes from South Asian countries entered by the Indian Olympic Association

Organiser

South Asia Olympic Council

The top single-sport title outside the Olympics.

Who can enter

Athletes selected by the national federation who meet entry standards or rankings

Organiser

Each sport's international federation, e.g. World Athletics

Continental titles that often carry qualification or ranking points for the Olympics and World Championships; for example, New Delhi hosted the 2026 Asian Shooting Championship (rifle and pistol).

Who can enter

Athletes selected by the national federation

Organiser

Each sport's Asian confederation

In 2026 the series had 14 meetings and a two-day final in Brussels on 4–5 September.

Who can enter

Leading athletes invited by meeting organisers; points earned decide places in the final

Organiser

World Athletics

Tournaments run in tiers from Super 100 to Super 1000; India hosts the India Open (Super 750) in New Delhi and the Syed Modi International in Lucknow.

Who can enter

Players entered by the Badminton Association of India based on world rankings

Organiser

Badminton World Federation

Several rifle, pistol and shotgun stages a year, ending with a World Cup Final.

Who can enter

Shooters selected by the National Rifle Association of India

Organiser

International Shooting Sport Federation

Four stages a year, followed by a World Cup Final for the top archers.

Who can enter

Archers selected by the Archery Association of India

Organiser

World Archery