Sports Guide · How sport works · Continental & national games
Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, National Games and Khelo India — the ladder below the Olympics
Education Margdarshan's plain guide to the big games an Indian player meets on the way up: the Khelo India Games for schools, colleges and more, the National Games between states, the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games abroad — how many countries and players take part, how India did in 2026, and which medals count for jobs.
01 Step by step
Which games come at which level
The games an Indian player meets, from bottom to top [3][1][7][5]
| Level | Games | Who plays |
|---|---|---|
| School & youth | Khelo India Youth Games (since 2018, first called Khelo India School Games) | Young players picked by their states |
| College | Khelo India University Games (since 2020) | University students |
| Special | Khelo India Winter (2020), Para (2023), Beach (2025) and Tribal (2026) Games | Winter, para, beach and tribal sport players |
| National | National Games | State teams, plus Services |
| Asia | Asian Games (every 4 years) | India's national team |
| Commonwealth | Commonwealth Games (every 4 years) | India's national team |
| World | Olympics, world championships | The very best |
02 Khelo India
Khelo India — the government's grassroots plan
- Khelo India started in 2017 by joining three older schemes. It builds training centres and sports grounds, trains coaches, uses sports science and runs competitions.
- By July 2026: 1,067 Khelo India Centres, 349 new sports infrastructure projects (₹3,176 crore), and 2,745 Khelo India Athletes getting coaching, kit, medical care and a monthly allowance.
- More than 63,000 players have competed in the Khelo India Games since 2018. [3]
- The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (Bihar) had 27 sports, including Indian games like gatka, kalaripayattu, mallakhamb, thang-ta, yogasana and kho-kho. [8]
- In July 2026 the Cabinet approved a much bigger Khelo India scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31 (₹36,441 crore together with help to federations). It adds Khelo India Feeder Schools, Khelo India Utkrishta Vidyalayas and a new Emerging Khelo India Athletes group about ten times bigger, and a clear path from Khelo India to TOPS. [6]
Since 4 March 2024, medal winners of the Khelo India Youth (above-18 category), University, Para and Winter Games can claim central government sports-quota jobs. [9]
03 National Games
National Games — states play each other
- The National Games are India's own Olympics-style event: states (and the Services team) send players, and medals go to their team. The 38th National Games were held in Uttarakhand in 2025, with venues in Dehradun, Haldwani and other cities. [7]
- A medal (top 3) for your state at the National Games is one of the results that count for central sports-quota jobs. [9]
04 Asian Games
Asian Games — Asia's biggest sports event
- The Asian Games are held once every four years by the Olympic Council of Asia, which has 45 member countries or regions. India had the idea: the first Asian Games were held in New Delhi in March 1951 — 11 nations, 489 athletes, six sports. [1]
Asian Games 2026, Aichi-Nagoya (Japan), 19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026 [1][2]
| What | Number |
|---|---|
| Sports / disciplines | 43 sports, 71 disciplines |
| Medal events | 469 (1,407 medals given) |
| India's team | 501 players in 36 disciplines — over 300 at their first Asian Games |
| India's result | 4th — 85 medals: 21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze |
| India's top gold sports | Archery 5 · shooting 3 · boxing 3 · cricket, hockey and kabaddi 2 each |
| Next Asian Games | Doha, Qatar, 2030 |
India's Asian Games medals [3][2]
| Games | Medals |
|---|---|
| Incheon 2014 | 57 |
| Jakarta 2018 | 69 |
| Hangzhou (2023) | 107 — India's best ever |
| Aichi-Nagoya 2026 | 85 |
05 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games — and India hosts in 2030
Commonwealth Games 2026, Glasgow (23 Jul – 2 Aug 2026) [3][4]
| What | Number |
|---|---|
| Countries | 74 |
| Sports | 10 (6 para sports fully included), at 4 venues |
| India's team | 124 players — 78 men, 46 women |
| India's result | 4th — 39 medals: 13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze |
- India's firsts at Glasgow 2026: Asmita Dey became India's first Commonwealth Games judo champion; Tejaswin Shankar won India's first decathlon medal; Mirabai Chanu won her third Commonwealth gold in a row. [4]
06 Two more you should know
World Games and Youth Olympic Games
- The World Games are for sports that are mostly not in the Olympics — like korfball, tug of war, kickboxing and life saving. Chengdu 2025 had 34 sports; the next is Karlsruhe 2029. [10]
- The Youth Olympic Games are for players up to 17. Dakar 2026 (Senegal) runs for two weeks from 31 October 2026. [11]
07 Quick doubts
Straight answers
Does a Khelo India medal count for a government job?
Yes. Since 4 March 2024, medals at the Khelo India Youth Games (above-18 category), University, Para and Winter Games count for central government sports-quota jobs. [9]
Which is bigger for India — Asian Games or Commonwealth Games?
In 2026 the Asian Games had 469 events and India won 85 medals; the Commonwealth Games had only 10 sports and India won 39. Both give the same government cash award: ₹30 lakh for gold. [1][2][4][12]
08 Official sources & verification
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from an official body's own file or a Government of India document below, read on 18 October 2026. Numbers, dates and rules change — open the current file before you act on it.
- PIB Factsheet — Asian Games 2026: India's Journey from New Delhi to Aichi-Nagoya (6 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab) OCA's 45 members, 1951 New Delhi Games, 2026 dates, 43 sports, 71 disciplines, 469 events, 1,407 medals, India's 501 athletes, gold by sport · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- All India Radio News — Asian Games 2026 conclude in Nagoya; India finishes 4th with 85 medals (opens in a new tab) India 4th with 85 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze); Doha 2030 next · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — The Making of a Sporting Nation (27 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India scheme (2017), centres, athletes, 63,000+ Games participants, Khelo India Games editions, India's Asian and Commonwealth Games history, Glasgow 2026 basics and team · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — The Making of a Sporting Nation: Khelo India and the Road to International Excellence (3 Aug 2026) (opens in a new tab) India 4th at Glasgow 2026 with 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver, 9 bronze); Indian firsts · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — PM hails India being officially awarded hosting rights for 2030 Commonwealth Games (opens in a new tab) Amdavad as host of the Centenary Commonwealth Games 2030; India hosting after 20 years · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (31 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) ₹36,441 crore for 2026-31, Feeder Schools, Utkrishta Vidyalayas, Emerging Khelo India Athletes, path to TOPS, National Games support · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- All India Radio News — 38th National Games highlights (Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) 38th National Games in Uttarakhand (Dehradun, Haldwani), state teams and Services · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (Bihar) — official site (opens in a new tab) The 27 sports of KIYG 2025 · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- DoPT Office Memorandum, 4 March 2024 — Incentive for Sportspersons (opens in a new tab) Khelo India Games and National Games medals in the order of preference for sports-quota jobs · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- International World Games Association — The World Games 2025, Chengdu (opens in a new tab) 34 sports, mostly non-Olympic; next edition Karlsruhe 2029 · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- IOC — Dakar 2026 advances venue and legacy plans as Youth Olympic Games preparations intensify (IOC press release) (opens in a new tab) YOG Dakar 2026 dates and age (up to 17) · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) ₹30 lakh gold at both Asian Games and Commonwealth Games · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
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