The 5th edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2025) concluded on December 5, 2025 in Rajasthan, with Chandigarh University topping the overall medal tally. The 12-day multi-city sporting extravaganza was held across seven Rajasthan cities — Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur — from November 24 to December 5, 2025. A total of 4,448 athletes from universities across India competed in 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport (Kho-Kho). The closing ceremony was addressed by Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse and Rajasthan Sports Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore (himself a former Olympic silver medallist, Athens 2004, double-trap shooting). Minister Khadse stated that youth and sports would play a crucial role in building a developed India and projecting India's soft power globally. KIUG 2025 is part of the Khelo India initiative — launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2018 — aimed at reviving grassroots sporting culture, identifying talent, and creating a sports ecosystem. Rajasthan's hosting of KIUG 2025 enhanced its sports infrastructure significantly, with new facilities developed in Ajmer, Kota, and Bikaner.
5th Khelo India University Games 2025 Concludes in Rajasthan; Chandigarh University Tops Medal Tally with 4,448 Athletes
The 5th edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2025) concluded on December 5, 2025 in Rajasthan, with Chandigarh University topping the overall medal tally. The 12-day multi-city sporting extravaganza was held across seven Rajasthan cities — Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur — from November 24 to December 5, 2025. A total of 4,448 athletes from universities across India competed in 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport (Kho-Kho). The closing ceremony was addressed by Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse and Rajasthan Sports Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore (himself a former Olympic silver medallist, Athens 2004, double-trap shooting). Minister Khadse stated that youth and sports would play a crucial role in building a developed India and projecting India's soft power globally. KIUG 2025 is part of the Khelo India initiative — launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2018 — aimed at reviving grassroots sporting culture, identifying talent, and creating a sports ecosystem. Rajasthan's hosting of KIUG 2025 enhanced its sports infrastructure significantly, with new facilities developed in Ajmer, Kota, and Bikaner.
Key facts
- 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 concluded on December 5 in Rajasthan.
- The 12-day event was held across seven Rajasthan cities from November 24 to December 5.
- Over 5,000 athletes from across India competed in 23 medal sports.
- Chandigarh University topped the overall medal tally at the games.
- Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, Olympic silver medallist, addressed the closing ceremony.
- KIUG is part of the Khelo India initiative launched in 2018 to revive grassroots sports.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
- RAS 2023 Total Khelo India centres in India with reference to Rajasthan — Both questions address the Khelo India initiative's footprint in Rajasthan, which directly relates to the 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 hosted across seven state cities.
- RAS 2023 Ten verticals of Khelo India Scheme — Both relate to the Khelo India Scheme structure, under which KIUG 2025 was held in Rajasthan as a major vertical.
Mains angle
Q: Assess how the 5th Khelo India University Games 2025, held across seven Rajasthan cities with over 5,000 athletes, bolsters grassroots sports ecosystem and state sports infrastructure.
Answer (50 words):
The 5th Khelo India University Games concluded December 5, 2025 in Rajasthan, Chandigarh University topping the tally. Held November 24-December 5 across Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, Bharatpur, over 5,000 athletes competed in 23 medal sports plus Kho-Kho. Ministers Raksha Khadse and Rajyavardhan Rathore addressed closing; Ajmer, Kota, Bikaner infrastructure upgraded.
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In which state were the 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 held?
The 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 were held in Rajasthan and concluded in Jaipur.
Source: PIB / News on Air / The Statesman / Khel Today / Olympics.com
Frequently asked questions
Where and when was the 5th Khelo India University Games 2025 held?
The 5th Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2025) was held across seven cities of Rajasthan — Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur — from November 24 to December 5, 2025.
Which university topped the medal tally at KIUG 2025?
Chandigarh University topped the overall medal tally at the 5th Khelo India University Games 2025, which concluded in Rajasthan on December 5, 2025.
How many athletes participated and in how many sports at KIUG 2025?
More than 5,000 athletes from universities across India competed in 23 medal sports at KIUG 2025. Kho-Kho was featured as a demonstration sport at the games.
Who is Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore and what role did he play at the KIUG 2025 closing ceremony?
Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore is Rajasthan's Sports Minister and a double-trap shooting silver medallist at the Athens 2004 Olympics — India's first individual Olympic silver. He addressed the closing ceremony of KIUG 2025 in Rajasthan.
What is the Khelo India initiative and when was it launched?
The Khelo India initiative was launched in 2018 by the Government of India to revive grassroots-level sports across the country. KIUG is one component of this initiative, specifically targeting university-level athletes.
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