Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) topped at the 38th edition of National Games which was held in Uttarakhand from January 26, 2025 to February 14, 2025, with 121 medals including 68 gold, 26 silver and 27 bronze. With this, SSCB continued its dominance in the National Games as it topped the medal tally for 5th time in the last six National Games, except in 2023.
- SSCB secured the Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy which is awarded to the team that wins the highest number of gold medals at the National Games.
- Maharashtra, secured 2nd position in overall medal tally with 201 medals, 54 gold, 71 silver and 76 bronze.
- It is followed by Haryana ranked at 3rd position with 153 medals (48 gold, 47 silver and 58 bronze).
- The event, themed ‘Green Games’, focused on sustainability, featuring eco-friendly welcome kits, e-waste medals, and tree plantations for medalists.
Note: The 37th edition of National Games was held in Goa in 2023. Maharashtra for the 1st time topped the medal tally with 228 medals and won the Raja Bhalindra Singh Trophy in 2023.
Top 5 Winners at 38th National Games:
| Rank | State | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) | 68 | 26 | 27 | 121 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 54 | 71 | 76 | 201 |
| 3 | Haryana | 48 | 47 | 58 | 153 |
| 4 | Madhya Pradesh (MP) | 34 | 26 | 22 | 82 |
| 5 | Karnataka | 34 | 18 | 28 | 80 |
Click here to view full list of Medal tally
About 38th National Games:
i.Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was invited as Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of 38th National Games which was held on January 28, 2025 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- While addressing the event, the PM reiterated his commitment to bring the 2036 Olympic Games to India.
Note: Earlier, PM had inaugurated the opening ceremony of two previous editions of National Games in Gujarat (2022), and Goa (2023).
ii.The latest edition of National Games witnessed the participation of more than 16,000 athletes from 28 states, 8 Union Territories (UTs) and SSCB competed in 35 different sports, with 33 medal sports and a total of 448 gold, 448 silver, and 594 bronze medals.
- Two sports – Kalarippayattu and Rafting were the demonstration sports in which no medals were given to the participants.
iii.The mascot for 38th National Games was named ‘Mauli’, inspired by the Himalayan Molan, state bird of Uttarakhand.
- The logo featured ‘the Monal’ which symbolizes the state’s rich natural beauty and diversity.
- The official tagline of 38th National Games was titled ‘Sankalp Se Shikar Tak’ (Resolve to Zenith).
iv.The latest edition of National Games also introduced newly designed torch which has incorporated motifs of the perennial holy river Ganga and the state flower ‘Brahma Kamal’ also known as ‘Lotus of the Darks’.
v.Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) was officially designated as the bronze sponsor of the latest edition of National Games.
vi.The Government of India (GoI) collaborated with Noida (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based Attero Recycling Private Limited, India’s largest cleantech company and the world’s largest recycler of lithium-ion batteries for 38th National Games.
- The latest edition of National Games was centered on sustainability under the theme ‘Green Games’.
- Attero supplied recycled metals with more than 99.9% purity, ensuring a positive carbon footprint.
vii.GoI appointed Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based travel firm Thomas Cook (India) Limited as exclusive partner for National Games 2025 to deliver end-to-end management across 3 main portfolios of accommodation, catering and transport services for 20,000 contingent, including over 10,000 athletes, 5,000 support staff, and 3,000 dignitaries.
Key Highlights of 38th National Games:
Best Female and Male Athlete:
i.14-year old Swimmer from Karnataka, Dhinidhi Desinghu, who competed at Paris 2024 Olympics, claimed the Best Female Athlete title at 38th National Games, by winning 11 medals, including 9 gold, one silver, and one bronze.
ii.India’s top backstroke swimmer Srihari Nataraj (Bengaluru, Karnataka), who also competed at 2024 Paris Olympic Games, claimed the Best Male Athlete title for the 2nd consecutive time. He won 10 medals including 9 gold and one silver at latest edition of National Games.
- Earlier, he won this title at the 37th National Games where he won 8 gold and one bronze.
Top 10 of medal tally are: TN won 92 medals (including 27 gold, 30 silver and 35 bronze); Uttarakhand won 103 medals (including 24 gold, 35 silver, and 44 bronze); WB won 47 medals (including 16 gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze); Punjab won 66 medals (15 gold, 20 silver, and 31 bronze) and National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi won 62 medals (including 15 gold, 18 silver and 29 bronze).
Closing Ceremony of 38th National Games:
On February 14, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) addressed the closing ceremony of the 38th National Games which was held at the International Sports Stadium, Golapar, Haldwani district of Uttarakhand.
Key People: Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYA&S); Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand; Conrad Sangma, CM of Meghalaya and Union Minister of State (MoS) Ajay Tamta, along with various other dignitaries were present at the event.
Key Points:
i.While addressing the event, Union Minister Amit Shah applauded the state government of Uttarakhand for successful conduct of 38th National Games and with this, it has now become a ‘Khel Bhoomi’ with the help of sports infrastructure developed in every district of the state.
- He further highlighted that nearly 16,000 athletes participated in around 435 competitions during the National Games.
Note: Ministry of Finance (MoF) has allocated Rs 3,800 crore for sports in the Union Budget for Financial Year 2025-26(FY26).
ii.Also, the Union Sports Minister addressed the gathering in closing ceremony, celebrating the remarkable performances and the spirit of competition.
iii.Conrad Sangma, CM of Meghalaya received the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) flag from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PT Usha, Chairperson of IOA, during the closing ceremony of 38th National Games.
- As per IOA, Meghalaya will host the 39th edition of National Games which is scheduled to be held tentatively in the month of February or March, 2027.
About Uttarakhand:
Chief Minister (CM)- Pushkar Singh Dhami
Governor- Gurmit Singh
Capital- Dehradun
Dams- Tehri Dam, Tumaria Dam, Maneri Dam
