UGC asks schools, colleges to celebrate National Sports Day 2025 on August 29

The University Grants Commission has urged all educational institutions to celebrate the National Sports Day 2025 on August 29, and to dedicate atleast one hour to organise sports and fitness activities. UGC has directed to conduct sports events till August 31, to promote well-being among students and staff.

National Sports Day 2025 is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. He was popularly known as 'The Wizard of Hockey,' and is remembered for his contributions to the Indian sport.

UGC has also suggested a list of activities from which institutions can choose their sports as feasible, such as cricket, cycling, kho-kho, rope skipping, chess, speed walking, etc. Participants are advised to come in sports attire for the sports activities.

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National Sports Day 2025: Event format

UGC has issued an advisory to follow the event format and schedule to mark National Sports Day 2025.

• Institutions to organise a sports assembly on August 29, where students will give tribute to Major Dhyan Chand and take a pledge.
• Participants should be grouped into 2, 4, or 6 balanced teams, and ensure gender equality
• Teams may be named after freedom fighters or iconic Indian sportspersons.
• Maintain a medal tally, and the highest-scoring team wins the Major Dhyan Chand Trophy.
• Promote on social media with a tagline and hashtags

National Sports Day 2025: Schedule

The National Sports Day 2025 schedule is given below. However, institutions may add their formats or adapt the above based on infrastructure and interests.

Recently, the Cabinet also approved the National Sports Policy (NSP), ahead of the Olympics 2036, aiming to reshape the country’s landscape and empower citizens through sports. The NSP 2025 initiative aims to make sports a mass movement through community participation and school integration aligned with NEP 2020.