Which Indian state hosted the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship in India?

Introduction / Context:
Ice-skating is a niche but growing sport in India, and national championships help promote winter sports infrastructure in cold regions. The 12th National Ice-Skating Championship drew attention because it was hosted in a scenic hill and snow destination. This question checks whether you can correctly identify the Indian state that hosted this championship, linking geography with sports current affairs.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship held in India.
• The options are four Himalayan or hill states: Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
• We assume that the championship was held at a well-known winter sports location with suitable ice-skating facilities.
• Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir is already famous as an Indian winter sports hub.

Concept / Approach:
Ice-skating requires naturally cold conditions or specialised rinks. Among the given states, Jammu and Kashmir, especially Gulmarg, is well known for snow sports such as skiing and ice-skating. News reports about the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship highlighted Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, as the host venue. Although other hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand also have cold climates, this specific national event was hosted by Jammu and Kashmir.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall India's main winter sports locations; Gulmarg (Jammu and Kashmir) is among the most famous. Step 2: Connect the phrase “National Ice-Skating Championship” with media images and reports from Gulmarg. Step 3: Compare all options and note that Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have hill stations but were not highlighted in news for this 12th edition. Step 4: Recognise that sports current affairs books mention Jammu and Kashmir as the host state. Step 5: Select “Jammu and Kashmir” as the final answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you review archives of sports news and government press releases, you will find references to the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship being held at Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. The event was often publicised as a step to encourage winter tourism and sports in the region. Test-preparation websites that cover Indian sports GK also list Jammu and Kashmir as the correct answer, confirming this choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sikkim: While it has cold regions and mountain terrain, it was not the host of this particular national ice-skating event.
• Himachal Pradesh: Known for Shimla and Manali, but the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship was not held here.
• Uttarakhand: Home to hill stations like Nainital and Mussoorie, yet it did not host the 12th National Ice-Skating Championship.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to guess any hill state that seems cold enough for ice-skating, without actually recalling the news. Another pitfall is to answer based on famous holiday destinations instead of sports-specific locations. Remembering Gulmarg as a winter sports centre and linking it to Jammu and Kashmir helps avoid confusion among the similar Himalayan states listed in the options.

Final Answer:
The 12th National Ice-Skating Championship in India was hosted by the state of Jammu and Kashmir.