India’s National Games of India are considered the country’s biggest multi-sport event. In 2025, the 38th National Games 2025 were held in historic fashion in Uttarakhand, where thousands of athletes from 37 contingents across the country participated.
38th National Games 2025
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Event | 38th National Games / 38th National Games of India |
| Edition | 38th Edition of National Games |
| Year of Organisation | 2025 |
| Host State | Uttarakhand |
| Main Host Cities | Dehradun (primary), Haldwani, Haridwar, New Tehri, Nainital, Rudrapur, Pithoragarh etc. |
| Duration | 28 January 2025 to 14 February 2025 |
| Total Contingents (Teams) | 37 (all states + most union territories + Services Sports Control Board) |
| Approx. Total Athletes | Around 11,000+ athletes |
| Total Number of Sports | Around 35 sports |
| Main Opening Ceremony Venue | Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Raipur (Dehradun) |
| Main Closing Ceremony Venue | International Sports Stadium, Golapar (Haldwani) |
| Official Motto (Tagline) | “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” (From Resolve to Zenith) |
| Mascot | “Mauli / Mouli” – based on the Himalayan Monal |
| Official Torch | “Tejaswini” |
| Organising Bodies | Indian Olympic Association (IOA) + Government of Uttarakhand |
What are the National Games of India?
The National Games are India’s Olympic-style multi-sport event, in which all states, union territories and the Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) take part.
Their main objectives are:
To strengthen national unity through sports
To identify new sporting talents and take them to the national and international stage
To promote sports infrastructure and sports culture in different states
The 38th National Games 2025 became a very important chapter in this tradition, because for the first time a hill state like Uttarakhand hosted such a large-scale multi-sport event.
Host Uttarakhand and the Venues
In the 38th National Games, not just one city but multiple cities across Uttarakhand were linked to the hosting of events. This boosted sports + tourism + the local economy simultaneously.
Major Host Cities and Their Roles
| City | District | Main Role / Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Dehradun | Dehradun | Opening ceremony, athletics and several major indoor/outdoor events |
| Haldwani (Golapar) | Nainital | Closing ceremony, team games and final matches |
| Haridwar | Haridwar | Men’s and women’s hockey competitions |
| New Tehri | Tehri Garhwal | Water sports such as kayaking, canoeing etc. |
| Nainital | Nainital | Selected indoor and outdoor games |
| Rudrapur | Udham Singh Nagar | Some team sports and indoor games |
| Pithoragarh | Pithoragarh | Selected sports linked to the hill region |
Theme, Motto, Mascot and Torch – Identity of the 38th National Games
Official Motto – “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak”
The official tagline of the 38th National Games was:
“Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” (From Resolve to Zenith)
Its message:
Strong determination (resolve)
Hard work and discipline
And finally reaching the summit / top level performance
This motto was not only for athletes, but also symbolised the vision of a “New Sports India”.
Mascot – “Mauli / Mouli”
The mascot was named “Mauli / Mouli”.
It is based on the Himalayan Monal, which is the state bird of Uttarakhand.
The Monal’s colourful feathers symbolise energy, beauty, positivity and the desire to soar high.
Through the mascot Mauli, the message was:
Uttarakhand is a state of nature, biodiversity and adventure
Athletes, like the Monal, can reach great heights even in tough conditions
Torch – “Tejaswini”
The official torch of the 38th National Games was named “Tejaswini”.
It was considered a symbol of radiance, energy, strength and progress.
Through the torch relay across various cities and religious/tourist locations in Uttarakhand, the message was carried that –
“Sports are the true radiance and identity of the new generation.”
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Opening Ceremony
Date: 28 January 2025
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Raipur (Dehradun)
Inauguration: The 38th National Games were formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
Dignitaries present on the dais:
Governor of Uttarakhand
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami
President of the Indian Olympic Association, P. T. Usha
Several Union ministers, officials and top athletes
The Athlete Oath was administered by Uttarakhand’s badminton star Lakshya Sen, which was a proud moment in itself.
Closing Ceremony
Date: 14 February 2025
Venue: International Sports Stadium, Golapar (Haldwani)
Chief Guest: Union Home and Cooperation Minister of India, Shri Amit Shah
Also present on the dais:
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami
Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma
IOA President P. T. Usha, along with other officials and athletes
At this ceremony, Meghalaya was announced as the next host state, and the IOA flag was formally handed over to Meghalaya.
38th National Games 2025 – All India Medal Tally
In the National Games, the overall champion is decided primarily on the number of gold medals, followed by silver and bronze.
Top Contingents – Medal Tally
| Position | Contingent / State | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total Medals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) | 68 | 26 | 27 | 121 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 54 | 71 | 73 | 198 |
| 3 | Haryana | 48 | 47 | 58 | 153 |
| 4 | Tamil Nadu | 27 | 30 | 34 | 91 |
| 5 | Uttarakhand (Host State) | 24 | 35 | 44 | 103 |
| 6 | West Bengal | 16 | 13 | 18 | 47 |
| 7 | Punjab | 15 | 20 | 31 | 66 |
| 8 | Delhi | 15 | 18 | 29 | 62 |
Key Points:
Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) emerged as the overall champion – i.e. the top winner of the 38th National Games.
Maharashtra won the highest total number of medals, but finished second due to fewer golds than SSCB.
Haryana performed brilliantly in wrestling, boxing and athletics.
For the first time, host state Uttarakhand crossed the 100+ medal mark, which is a milestone in the sports history of the state.
Complete History of the National Games: From 1st to 38th
Note: The early editions were held under the name “Indian Olympic Games”; later they came to be known as the National Games of India.
| Edition | Year | Host City / State | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1924 | Lahore | Indian Olympic Games – first edition |
| 2 | 1926 | Lahore | Indian Olympic Games |
| 3 | 1928 | Lahore | Indian Olympic Games |
| 4 | 1930 | Allahabad (now Prayagraj) | Indian Olympic Games |
| 5 | 1932 | Madras (now Chennai) | Indian Olympic Games |
| 6 | 1934 | New Delhi | Indian Olympic Games |
| 7 | 1936 | Lahore | Indian Olympic Games |
| 8 | 1938 | Calcutta (now Kolkata) | Indian Olympic Games – last edition under this name |
| 9 | 1940 | Bombay (now Mumbai) | “National Games” name used officially for the first time |
| 10 | 1942 | Patiala | National Games |
| 11 | 1944 | Lahore | National Games |
| 12 | 1946 | Lahore | National Games |
| 13 | 1948 | Lucknow | National Games |
| 14 | 1952 | Madras | National Games |
| 15 | 1953 | Jubbulpore (now Jabalpur) | National Games |
| 16 | 1954 | New Delhi | National Games |
| 17 | 1956 | Patiala | National Games |
| 18 | 1958 | Cuttack | National Games |
| 19 | 1960 | New Delhi | National Games |
| 20 | 1962 | Jabalpur | National Games |
| 21 | 1964 | Calcutta | National Games |
| 22 | 1966 | Bangalore (now Bengaluru) | National Games |
| 23 | 1968 | Madras | National Games |
| 24 | 1970 | Cuttack | National Games |
| 25 | 1979 | Hyderabad | National Games |
| 26 | 1985 | Delhi (New Delhi) | First Modern National Games (Olympic-style format) |
| 27 | 1987 | Kerala (Kannur, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kochi, Kollam, Alappuzha) | Modern National Games |
| 28 | 1994 | Maharashtra (mainly Mumbai & Pune) | Modern National Games |
| 29 | 1997 | Karnataka (Bengaluru, Mysuru) | Modern National Games |
| 30 | 1999 | Manipur (Imphal) | Modern National Games |
| 31 | 2001 | Punjab (Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Chandigarh etc.) | Modern National Games |
| 32 | 2002 | Andhra Pradesh (Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam) | Modern National Games |
| 33 | 2007 | Assam (Guwahati) | Modern National Games |
| 34 | 2011 | Jharkhand (Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad) | Modern National Games |
| 35 | 2015 | Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur) | Modern National Games |
| 36 | 2022 | Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar) | Modern National Games – 36th National Games Gujarat 2022 |
| 37 | 2023 | Goa (Mapusa, Panaji, Ponda, Vasco, Madgaon; track cycling & golf – Delhi) | 37th National Games Goa 2023 |
| 38 | 2025 | Uttarakhand (Dehradun, Haridwar, Shivpuri, New Tehri, Nainital, Haldwani, Rudrapur etc.) | 38th National Games Uttarakhand 2025 – “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” |
Uttarakhand’s Sport-wise Medal Tally
The performance of host state Uttarakhand was one of the most talked-about aspects of the 38th National Games Uttarakhand 2025.
Below is a summary of medals won by Uttarakhand in major sports
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Pentathlon | 6 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
| Kayaking & Canoeing | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| Taekwondo | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 |
| Wushu | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| Athletics | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| Judo | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Boxing | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Yogasana | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Wrestling | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Lawn Bowl | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Badminton | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Rowing | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Netball | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Handball | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Football | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kabaddi | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Mallakhamb | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gymnastics | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Cycling | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Lawn Tennis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Weightlifting | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Shooting | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Total official tally:
24 Gold + 35 Silver + 44 Bronze = 103 Medals
(Some reports miss 1–2 bronze events in their sport-wise tables, so the table total may differ slightly, but the officially accepted tally is 103 medals.)
Some Important Highlights of the 38th National Games
SSCB once again proved that the armed forces of India have a very strong sports setup.
States like Maharashtra, Haryana and Tamil Nadu delivered outstanding performances in athletics, swimming, shooting, wrestling and boxing.
Hockey competitions in Haridwar, water sports in New Tehri and opening–closing in Dehradun–Haldwani made the 38th National Games Uttarakhand particularly special.
Host state Uttarakhand showcased its strength in relatively new sports for the state such as Modern Pentathlon, Kayaking–Canoeing, Taekwondo and Wushu, winning multiple medals.
Mascot Mauli and torch Tejaswini created a strong branding and visual identity for the entire event.
39th National Games – Where Will the Next Edition Be Held?
At the closing ceremony of the 38th National Games, it was announced that the next edition, i.e. the 39th National Games, will be held in Meghalaya.
Host State: Meghalaya
Main Cities:
Shillong – main host city
Tura and Jowai – proposed as co-host cities
Probable Year of Organisation: 2027 (as per government statements and reports)
Thus, after the 38th National Games Uttarakhand, it is now the turn of North-East India, which will be a big opportunity for the sports infrastructure and tourism of that region.
Conclusion
The 38th National Games 2025 proved that even a hill state can successfully host large multi-sport events.
For Uttarakhand, this was not just a sports event, but a major platform for infrastructure development, tourism and youth inspiration.
SSCB, Maharashtra and Haryana dominated the medal tally, while the host state made history by winning 103 medals.
The motto “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” sent a clear message to both athletes and youth that only resolve and hard work can take you to the top.
From an exam point of view, 38th National Games Uttarakhand, mascot Mauli, torch Tejaswini, the motto, medal tally and 39th National Games Meghalaya – all of these have become highly important GK topics for upcoming exams like NDA, CDS, SSC, state exams, teaching exams and more.
Frequently Asked Questions on the 38th National Games 2025
Q1. Where were the 38th National Games 2025 held?
Ans: The 38th National Games 2025 were hosted by Uttarakhand. Major host cities included Dehradun, Haldwani, Haridwar, New Tehri, Nainital, Rudrapur and Pithoragarh.
Q2. When were the 38th National Games Uttarakhand held?
Ans: The 38th National Games 2025 were held from 28 January 2025 to 14 February 2025.
Q3. What was the official motto (tagline) of the 38th National Games 2025?
Ans: The official motto of the Games was “Sankalp Se Shikhar Tak” (From Resolve to Zenith).
Q4. Who was the mascot of the 38th National Games?
Ans: The mascot was named “Mauli / Mouli”, based on the Himalayan Monal, the state bird of Uttarakhand.
Q5. Who inaugurated and who declared the closing of the 38th National Games?
Ans:
Inauguration: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun.
Closing: Home Minister Shri Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest at Golapar, Haldwani.
Q6. Who were the overall winners of the 38th National Games 2025?
Ans: The Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) were the overall champions of the 38th National Games, winning the highest number of gold medals.
Q7. How did host state Uttarakhand perform in the 38th National Games?
Ans: Uttarakhand won 24 gold, 35 silver and 44 bronze medals, making a total of 103 medals. This was a historic achievement for the state.
Q8. Where will the 39th National Games be held?
Ans: The next edition, the 39th National Games, will be hosted by Meghalaya. The main host city will be Shillong, with Tura and Jowai also proposed as venues.
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