In the lead-up to Khelo India University Games 2025, Rajasthan organised a unique 'Viksit Rajasthan Smart Torch Relay' that traversed all districts of the state before culminating at the opening ceremony at Sawai Mansingh Stadium on November 24, 2025. The smart torch is solar-powered and equipped with a built-in camera — making it technologically distinctive from conventional Olympic-style torches. Two international sportspersons — boxer Arundhati Chaudhary and compound archer Rajesh Chauhan — handed the torch to officials at the ceremony. The torch relay symbolised the state government's dual vision of 'Viksit Rajasthan' (Developed Rajasthan) and a sports-empowered youth. The relay served as a grassroots sports promotion campaign — inspiring students, schools, and communities across Rajasthan's 41 districts to embrace sports culture. The KIUG 2025 being spread across 7 cities (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner) rather than a single venue is itself a deliberate strategy to democratise sports infrastructure development and leave a lasting legacy in Tier-2 cities. The Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) and Youth Affairs and Sports Department have invested in upgrading sports infrastructure across these cities for KIUG. The event also provides a platform to promote Rajasthan's culture, tourism, and heritage on a national stage, with the venue locations encompassing key heritage and tourism circuits of the state.