The Bihar government on Saturday inaugurated the state-level sports and literary-cultural competition “Umang-2026” for students of government engineering colleges and polytechnic institutes at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. The six-day event aims to provide a platform for young talent to showcase their skills beyond academics.
Organised under the Department of Science, Technology and Technical Education, the annual festival brings together students from across the state to compete in a range of sports, literary and cultural activities. The launch was led by state science and technology minister Sunil Kumar, who was joined by senior departmental officials.
The competition is structured in three phases — institution level, divisional level and state level. In this edition, polytechnic students will compete from 7 to 9 February, while engineering college participants will take part from 10 to 12 February 2026. Events are spread across locations, with sports contests held at the Patliputra Sports Complex and literary-cultural programmes at the Government Polytechnic in Gulzarbagh, Patna.
Officials said Umang-2026 aims to reinforce the importance of extracurricular engagement alongside technical education. Students will participate in team and individual sporting disciplines, including volleyball, kabaddi, badminton and track events. Literary and cultural contests will include debate, essay writing, painting and singing.
Organisers highlighted that the festival not only encourages healthy competition but also helps develop discipline, teamwork and confidence among participants. Thousands of students and faculty members are expected to be part of the event over the coming days.
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