Jammu, Mar 16: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the performance of the Youth Services & Sports Department and the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council, with a focus on expanding youth engagement in sports and creative activities across the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director General Youth Services & Sports Anuradha Gupta, Sports Council Secretary Nuzhat Gul and other senior officers.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the department’s initiatives to strengthen the sports ecosystem through grassroots competitions, talent identification programmes, national-level sporting events and digital youth engagement platforms. He emphasized that sports and creative activities help instill discipline, teamwork, confidence and leadership among young people.
Highlighting the growing concern of drug abuse among youth in Jammu and Kashmir, Dulloo said that sports and creative engagement provide constructive platforms that keep young people productively involved and away from harmful influences.
Presenting the department’s initiatives, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said efforts are underway to expand sports participation and improve infrastructure across districts so that young athletes can access quality training closer to their homes. He also informed that the first-ever Draft Youth Policy for Jammu and Kashmir has been prepared to provide a roadmap for youth empowerment, leadership development and sports promotion.
Director General Anuradha Gupta informed that the 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. Participation is expected to reach around 2.53 lakh by April 2026.
To promote winter sports, skiing training programmes were organised during January–February 2026 at Gulmarg, Gurez Valley, Bhaderwah and Sonamarg for Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 participants.
The meeting was also informed that youth engagement through the MyBharat portal increased significantly, with registrations rising from 3.21 lakh in December 2025 to over 7.10 lakh by March 2026.
Several upcoming initiatives were also discussed, including UT-level competitions in 36 sports disciplines, 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” to be held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre with participation of around 1,400 youth from across the country.
Other initiatives include Mini Marathon 2.0 (Srinagar Edition), the “Back to Bachpan” programme to revive traditional games like Gilli Danda and Stapoo, and Spring and Autumn Art Festivals to promote creativity among youth.
Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gul informed that between April 2025 and February 2026, the Council organised 1,076 sports activities across 50 disciplines, engaging over 32.33 lakh youth across the UT. The participation is expected to exceed the government’s target of 37.50 lakh youth for the financial year 2025-26.
Athletes from Jammu and Kashmir also performed strongly at national and international levels, winning 28 international medals and 469 national medals.
The meeting further reviewed sports infrastructure projects under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. Over 50 sports facilities 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 Bandipora, Shopian and Budgam.
Major upcoming sporting events proposed for the UT include the International Rafting Championship, South Asian Wushu Championship, and Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championship, planned to be hosted in Srinagar.
Concluding the meeting, the Chief Secretary reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening sports infrastructure and expanding opportunities for youth, stating that sustained investment in sports will help promote healthy lifestyles, discipline and positive social engagement across Jammu and Kashmir.