- College National Games to be introduced
- STAIRS Youth National Games, STAIRS School National Games, and the inaugural STAIRS College National Games to be held between December 2025 and February 2026
- Creating opportunities in every district through a merit-based system and building a structured pathway of talent identification from districts to the national stage
- Aligned with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Olympic vision and the National Sports Policy 2025
New Delhi, August 2025 – The STAIRS Foundation (The Society for Transformation, Inclusion, and Recognition through Sports), a National Sports Promotion Organisation (NSPO) recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, today announced STAIRS National Games for 2025–26, unveiling a structured pathway designed to take young athletes from the district level to the national stage. The series of National competitions will include the 3rd edition of STAIRS Youth National Games, the 2nd Edition of STAIRS School National Games, and the first STAIRS College National Games, with a clear focus on creating opportunities in every district and identifying talent at the grassroots.
Timeline for the flagship national-level competitions:
- STAIRS Youth National Games – January 2026
- STAIRS School National Games – December 2025
- STAIRS College National Games – February 2026
While STAIRS School Divisional Games and STAIRS College State Games are ongoing, the STAIRS Youth State Game will be held from November to December 2025, in all participating states.
The core purpose of these championships is to identify talent at the grassroots level and create opportunities in every district of India. With a pyramid structure of competitions progressing from
the district/division to the state and national level, the initiative aims to ensure that every talented child has a pathway to recognition, growth, and the possibility of representing India at the international level.
Speaking on the announcement, Mr. Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder & President, STAIRS Foundation, said, “This year marks 25 years of STAIRS’ work in grassroots sports and youth development, and with our presence in over 500 districts under the One India One Goal program, we are fully aligned with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of making India, the best sports-playing nation in the world. At our last National Games in Delhi (May 2024), over 4,000 players from 20 states competing across 15 sports disciplines participated, where we pledged to create a pool of podium finishers through structured programs supporting the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Indian Olympic Association.”
“The introduction of the College Games is another step towards this mission. With a merit-based system through district, division, and state-level competitions managed by our coordinators, we are expanding participation, ensuring fair opportunity, and identifying future champions. By keeping the Games open to federations, authorities, and private stakeholders, we are addressing the issue of selective participation and building a broader national talent pool,” he added. These initiatives align closely with Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of preparing India for future Olympics is consistent with the recently announced National Sports Policy 2025, which places strong emphasis on grassroots development, early talent identification, and creating a robust pipeline of athletes. They also reinforce the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) by integrating sports as a key component of holistic education, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on good health, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
These initiatives align closely with Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi’s vision of preparing India for future Olympics is consistent with the recently announced National Sports Policy 2025, which places strong emphasis on grassroots development, early talent identification, and creating a robust pipeline of athletes. They also reinforce the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) by integrating sports as a key component of holistic education, and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on good health, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
With its extensive presence in 480+ districts across 26 states and a network of over 2,500 grassroots coordinators, STAIRS has already impacted 25 million children and youth. Through its structured championships, the organisation is working towards the One India One Goal mission of ensuring that sports become a way of life for every young Indian.
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About Stairs Foundation
The Society for Transformation, Inclusion and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS), a National Sports Promotion Organisation recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is at the forefront of grassroots sports and youth development since its establishment in 2000. STAIRS has been recognised with the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar by the Hon’ble President of India for identifying and nurturing young talent nationwide. Committed to empowering India’s youth through the transformative power of sports, STAIRS integrates sports with education, health, and skill development programs, with the core belief centred on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, learn, and thrive. Our goal is to unleash the boundless potential of children across India.youth through the transformative power of sports, STAIRS integrates sports with education, health, and skill development programs, with the core belief centred on ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, learn, and thrive. Our goal is to unleash the boundless potential of children across India.
