The 5th Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2025) will be held across seven cities of Rajasthan — Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota and Bharatpur — from November 24 to December 5, 2025.
Similar to the Khelo India Youth Games held earlier this year in Bihar, the event will feature competitions in 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport (Kho-Kho).
More than 5,000 athletes are expected to participate in the 12-day sporting event, which is being organized in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said,
“The Khelo India University Games are a crucial link in India’s sporting journey. Globally, universities play a vital role in shaping champions, and KIUG provides our young athletes with a platform to showcase their talent at the national level. The Rajasthan edition will highlight India’s expanding sports ecosystem and serve as the first step for those aspiring to represent the nation on the global stage.”
He further added, “Under the visionary leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Khelo India initiative has built a robust ecosystem that promotes participation, talent development, and sporting excellence. The upcoming University Games in Rajasthan will inspire thousands of students to pursue sports alongside academics, while reinforcing the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat through competition and camaraderie.”
KIUG 2025 will include medal events in 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 featured as a demonstration sport, while Beach Volleyball, Canoeing & Kayaking, and Cycling will be introduced for the first time in the University Games.
In the 4th edition of the Khelo India University Games held in the Northeast, Chandigarh University emerged as the overall champion, followed by Lovely Professional University and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, securing second and third places respectively.