PM Modi inaugurates 38th National Games as Uttarakhand hosts multi-city event from 28 January

National Games open with focus on participation and legacy

The 38th National Games opened on 28 January, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event as Uttarakhand begins hosting the multi-sport competition across multiple cities. The National Games are designed as India’s premier domestic multi-discipline event, bringing together athletes and teams from across the country.

The Games’ schedule spans from 28 January to 14 February, and the competition programme features a wide range of sports. Organisers are also using the event to showcase venue upgrades and sporting infrastructure that can support future tournaments and athlete development programmes in the state.

Host cities and scale of the event

Uttarakhand is staging events across several centres, reflecting a distributed hosting model that spreads competition and logistics beyond a single city. This approach can create wider regional economic benefits through tourism, hospitality and local transport, while also allowing multiple venues to gain operational experience at a national level.

For athletes, the National Games remain a key platform to test performance against national peers, build competitive rhythm, and attract attention from selectors, federations and sponsors—particularly for disciplines where international exposure is limited.

What to watch during the Games

• Medal tallies and standout performances from emerging athletes.
• Execution quality at venues, including scheduling and athlete services.
• Long-term utilisation plans for upgraded facilities after the Games end.

With the opening on 28 January, the coming days will determine how smoothly the event runs across cities and whether it leaves a meaningful participation and infrastructure legacy for Uttarakhand’s sports ecosystem.