Over 35 lakh youth already engaged in sports activities this year
JAMMU, MARCH 16: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo Monday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the performance of the Youth Services & Sports Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, with a special focus on expanding youth engagement in sports and creative activities across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting, as per an official statement, was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports; Director General, Youth Services & Sports; Secretary, Sports Council and other senior officers of the Department.
The Chief Secretary took a detailed review of the initiatives undertaken by the department and the Sports Council to strengthen the sports ecosystem across the UTthrough grassroots competitions, talent identification programmes, national-level sporting events and digital youth engagement platforms.
The Chief Secretary maintained that sports and creative arts play a crucial role in shaping the character of young people by instilling discipline, teamwork, perseverance and a sense of responsibility. He observed that active participation in sports as well as creative pursuits such as art, music and cultural activities helps channel the energy of youth in a constructive direction while nurturing confidence and leadership qualities, competitive spirit in them.
He noted that in the present context, when drug abuse has emerged as a serious concern affecting sections of youth in Jammu and Kashmir, promoting sports and creative engagement becomes even more important. He said that such platforms provide a positive environment and meaningful opportunities that keep young people productively engaged and away from harmful influences. He stressed that sustained investment in sports and creative initiatives at the grassroots level can equip youth with valuable life lessons, strengthen their resilience and guide them towards a disciplined, healthy and purposeful future.
Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary presented a detailed overview of the department’s initiatives aimed at expanding youth participation in sporting activities while simultaneously strengthening sports infrastructure across districts so that young talent can access quality training facilities closer to their homes.
He stated that the department remains committed to providing year-round opportunities for youth to participate in sporting as well as creative activities. Efforts are also underway to bring national and international sporting events to Jammu and Kashmir, which not only help nurture local talent but also generate enthusiasm among sports lovers by providing opportunities to witness leading athletes performing in the Union Territory.
The Commissioner Secretary took this opportunity to inform that the first-ever Draft Youth Policy for Jammu and Kashmir has been prepared to provide a strategic roadmap for youth empowerment, leadership development and sports promotion. Sports-based interventions are also being integrated into the Nasha Mukt J&K campaign through themed tournaments, youth ambassadors, awareness drives and training of coaches to identify early signs of substance abuse among youth, he added.
Presenting the performance of the Directorate of Youth Services & Sports, Director General YS&S, Anuradha Gupta informed the meeting that mass participation programmes launched by the department have witnessed an overwhelming response from youth across Jammu and Kashmir.
She informed that the flagship grassroots sports league “Leagues of Classics – Enjoy the Game 1.0” has already engaged more than 2.23 lakh youth as of March 13, 2026 in sports such as cricket, football and volleyball at zonal and district levels, with participation expected to reach around 2.53 lakh by April 2026.
To promote winter sports among youth in mountainous regions of the Union Territory, snow skiing training programmes were organised during January–February 2026 at Gulmarg, Gurez Valley, Bhaderwah and Sonamarg. These programmes engaged young participants in the Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 categories, providing them with exposure to winter sports and professional training.
The meeting also reviewed the successful organisation of “SRIJAN – The Making of a Legacy,” the first national-level sports conference hosted by the Directorate of Sports earlier this year. The conference brought together sports administrators, policymakers and experts from across the country to deliberate on strategies for strengthening grassroots sports ecosystems.
The meeting was further informed that online engagement initiatives conducted through the MyBharat portal have significantly expanded outreach among young people. The number of registered youth on the portal increased from 3.21 lakh in December 2025 to more than 7.10 lakh by March 2026, reflecting growing participation in online fitness challenges, quizzes and sports awareness programmes.
Additionally, the department has uploaded over 10,000 youth engagement activities on the Youth Engagement and Empowerment Portal (YEEP), placing it among the leading departments in the Union Territory in terms of youth outreach and activity reporting.
The Chief Secretary was also apprised of the extensive calendar of sports and youth activities planned in the coming months. These include inter-school, district and UT-level competitions in 36 sports disciplines recognised by the School Games Federation of India for the U-14, U-17 and U-19 categories, organisation of “Leagues of Classics – Enjoy the Game 2.0” across all 20 districts, and “Aarohan 2026 -Viksit J&K Young Leaders’ Dialogue and National Youth Festival” scheduled to be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre in Srinagar with participation of around 1,400 youth from across the country.
Other initiatives include Mini Marathon 2.0 (Srinagar Edition) to promote physical fitness among youth, the “Back to Bachpan” initiative aimed at reviving traditional games such as Gilli Danda and Stapoo among children, as well as Spring and Autumn Art Festivals to encourage creativity and cultural expression among youth across districts.
The Directorate also proposed the establishment of cluster-based sports clubs in 788 school clusters across Jammu and Kashmir to identify and nurture sporting talent in the 8–14 years age group through scientific training and talent identification protocols aligned with the framework of the Sports Authority of India.
Presenting the performance of the Sports Council, Secretary Nuzhat Gul informed the meeting that the Union Territory has witnessed a significant surge in sports participation during the current financial year.
She added that between April 1, 2025 and February 28, 2026, the Council organised 1,076 sports activities across 50 disciplines, engaging over 32.33 lakh youth across Jammu and Kashmir. The government has fixed a target of 37.50 lakh youth engagement for the financial year 2025-26, which is expected to be exceeded with participation projected to reach around 37.75 lakh by March 2026.
Moreover it was given out that athletes from Jammu and Kashmir have also delivered commendable performances at national and international levels, winning 28 international medals including 9 gold, 10 silver and 9 bronze, along with 469 medals at national events comprising 138 gold, 137 silver and 194 bronze medals.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the progress of sports infrastructure projects being implemented by the Council under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. It was informed that ₹53 Cr out of the approved outlay of ₹55 Cr has already been released and fully utilised.
It ws highlighted that more than 50 sports infrastructure projects across districts are ready for inauguration, including a Synthetic Football Ground at Gassu Hazratbal, an Olympic-standard swimming pool at Gindun Rajbagh, and several indoor sports halls in districts including Bandipora, Shopian and Budgam. Significant progress has also been reported on major projects such as the development of Khel Gaon at Budgam and construction of synthetic hockey fields and football turfs at Jagti and Bandhurakh.
The Sports Council also presented its roadmap for April 2026 to March 2027, which includes hosting several national and international sporting events in the Union Territory. Major upcoming events include the International Rafting Championship in September 2026, the South Asian Wushu Championship and the Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championship, all proposed to be organised in Srinagar.
In addition, the Council plans to launch several new initiatives including a Women Rugby League, Thang Ta League, and Chess and Carrom Leagues to provide wider sporting platforms for athletes across different age groups.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to developing state-of-the-art sports infrastructure and expanding opportunities for youth across the Union Territory. He emphasised that sustained investment in sports and youth engagement will not only nurture sporting talent but also promote healthy lifestyles, discipline and positive social engagement among the young population of Jammu and Kashmir.
