Introduced in July last year by the central sports ministry, the policy seeks to strengthen infrastructure, identify promising talents, and elevate India on the global sports stage. By leveraging mega-events, it stimulates growth in tourism, production, and sports tech sectors. Gulmarg, renowned for its snowy slopes, has long hosted such gatherings, but this edition highlights policy-driven progress.

The influx of elite athletes, including Olympic-caliber skiers, has electrified the area. Local entrepreneur Abid, owner of a Tangmarg hotel, notes a pre-event booking frenzy. Surveying athletes from diverse states like MP, Haryana, Kerala, Telangana, and J&K, he enthuses, ‘It’s beyond business—it’s our essence. The Games turn Gulmarg into a microcosm of India, alive with regional dialects.’

Event scale has expanded remarkably: 1,123 participants in 2020 (J&K led medals), 1,208 in 2021 (18 host golds), and a record 1,395 in 2023 (J&K’s 76 medals total). Recent years saw scaled-back participation, yet Army, Himachal, and Karnataka excelled.

Tourism rebounded after a post-Pahalgam attack slump (from 2.6M to 1.047M visitors). Festive season and Games hype have filled over half of Gulmarg’s 2,300 lodging options.

Sledders Altaf Hussain and Mohammad Rafiq on Kongdori are optimistic. ‘Games breathe life here,’ Hussain says. ‘Peak earnings hit 1,500-3,000 rupees daily per person.’

With competitions in ski mountaineering, alpine, cross-country, and snowboarding, the Games transcend sports—symbolizing policy success in economic revival, cultural unity, and positioning Gulmarg as the nation’s winter sports epicenter.

The Indian Army, reigning overall champions, will aim to retain their crown amid fierce competition. Mandaviya emphasized the event’s alignment with the recently concluded Winter Olympics, noting the success of Leh’s phase. ‘Athletes will once again conquer challenging terrains,’ he remarked, foreseeing spectacular timings on the famed Kongdoori slope.

Khelo India has been a game-changer for winter sports in India. Once confined to elite circles with scant infrastructure, these disciplines now thrive on a solid national platform. Participation has surged, performances sharpened, and public interest soared, morphing a fringe segment into a structured development pathway.

Proof lies in global breakthroughs: Tara Prasad’s standout figure skating displays and the women’s ice hockey team’s groundbreaking bronze at the 2025 IIHF Asia Cup, including landmark victories. Such achievements underscore Khelo India’s role in fostering international contenders, moving beyond token Olympic appearances.

Post-Olympics timing—featuring Indian stars like Arif Khan in alpine skiing and Stanzing Lundup in cross-country—amplifies the event’s impact, channeling worldwide hype into domestic fervor. Expect 400 competitors across ski mountaineering, alpine skiing (the marquee event), Nordic skiing, and snowboarding.

This leg not only crowns victors but also cements India’s winter sports renaissance, nurturing talent poised for world stages.