Date: 2026-05-07Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
"National Sports Federation Conclave marks a coordinated step towards India’s preparation for upcoming Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games”: Hon'ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
**Executive Summary**
The National Sports Federation Conclave 2026 was convened to establish a coordinated roadmap for India’s participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2026 Asian Games, and 2028 Summer Olympics. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized athlete-centric governance, institutional reforms, and a zero-tolerance approach to doping. A key outcome of the conclave was the formal release of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 Rules and Reform Guidelines Handbook to ensure transparency and accountability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Governance and Institutional Reforms**
* Implementation of athlete-centric governance models across all federations.
* Requirement for greater transparency, accountability, and the conduct of timely elections.
* Introduction of the National Sports Governance Act 2025 Rules and Reform Guidelines Handbook.
* Strengthening coordination between athletes, federations, and the government.
**Anti-Doping and Integrity**
* Commitment to eradicating doping through awareness, education, and stricter legal measures.
* Emphasis on collective responsibility among federations, coaches, and support staff to ensure a clean sporting culture.
**Strategic Development and Training**
* Transition towards performance-driven results powered by scientific training and modern infrastructure.
* Focus on regular competition exposure and the promotion of sports leagues and academies.
* Integration of private sector participation to improve India’s medal prospects.
* Utilization of government initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India Movement, and the upcoming Khelo Bharat Mission.
**Future Roadmap**
* Focus on long-term planning for upcoming international events through 2028 and a vision for 2036.
* Promotion of domestic sports goods manufacturing and scientific fitness protocols.
* Aims to enhance Indian representation within global sports federations.
**Impact Analysis**
**National Sports Federations (NSFs)**
**Impact**
Federations are now subject to stricter compliance under the National Sports Governance Act 2025 and are required to shift toward more transparent, institutionalized operations.
**Action Required**
NSFs must implement the new reform guidelines, ensure open and fair selection systems, and conduct timely internal elections.
**Athletes**
**Impact**
Athletes will benefit from sustained institutional support, enhanced competition exposure, and a governance system that prioritizes their welfare and performance.
**Action Required**
Athletes must adhere to anti-doping regulations and engage with new scientific training and assessment protocols.
**Coaches and Support Staff**
**Impact**
There is an increased expectation for coaches to drive performance through science while taking active responsibility for the integrity of the sports ecosystem.
**Action Required**
Staff must actively contribute to building a clean sporting culture and adopt modern training systems outlined by the Ministry.
**Government and Regulatory Bodies**
**Impact**
The government is committed to increased investment in athletes, coaches, and infrastructure to transform India into a global sporting powerhouse.
**Action Required**
Provide sustained institutional support and oversee the implementation of the Khelo Bharat Mission and anti-doping laws.
Key Entities Referenced
National Sports Governance Act 2025 (NSG Act 2025): The primary legislative framework for sports in India, under which new governance rules and reform guidelines were released to ensure transparency and accountability.
National Sports Federation Conclave 2026: A high-level meeting of 37 National Sports Federations and the Indian Olympic Association to coordinate India’s roadmap for upcoming international sporting events.
Khelo Bharat Mission: An upcoming national initiative mentioned as a key component of the government's vision to strengthen the Indian sports ecosystem.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The primary central ministry responsible for the oversight of sports federations and the implementation of national sporting initiatives and reforms.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA): The apex body for the Olympic movement in India, centrally involved in the preparation for the Asian, Commonwealth, and Olympic Games.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
"National Sports Federation Conclave marks a
coordinated step towards India’s preparation for
upcoming Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic
Games”: Hon'ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
“Eradicating doping from the Indian sports ecosystem
requires collective responsibility and strict action”: Dr.
Mandaviya, while addressing the National Sport Federations
conclave
“Athlete welfare and athlete-centric governance must remain
the core focus of every federation”: Union Minister of Youth
Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
“India’s march towards upcoming international sport events
will be driven by performance, powered by science and
anchored in stronger federations”: MoS Raksha Khadse
“India’s sporting future depends on stronger coordination
between athletes, federations and governments”: Dr.
Mandaviya
Posted On: 07 MAY 2026 5:24PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya attended the National Sports Federation
Conclave 2026, which brought together representatives from 37 National Sports Federations (NSFs),
including the Indian Olympic Association, to deliberate on India’s future sporting roadmap and
preparations for major international events, including the Commonwealth Games 2026, Asian Games
2026 and Summer Olympics 2028.Addressing the conclave, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mandaviya said, “The National Sports Federation
Conclave marks a coordinated step towards India’s preparation for upcoming global sporting events.”
The Sports Minister also highlighted the Government’s broader vision of transforming India into a leading
sporting nation through long-term planning, scientific training, stronger sporting infrastructure and
sustained support for athletes preparing for major international competitions.
Highlighting the importance of institutional reforms and good governance practices, Dr. Mandaviya stated,
“India’s sporting future depends on stronger coordination between athletes, federations and
governments.”
Stressing that governance within federations must remain athlete-centric, he called for greater
transparency, timely elections, accountability and stronger institutional mechanisms to ensure athlete
welfare remains at the centre of India’s sporting ecosystem.The Union Minister also reiterated the Government’s commitment towards eradicating doping from the
Indian sports ecosystem through awareness, education and stricter legal measures.
“Eradicating doping from the Indian sports ecosystem requires collective responsibility and strict action,”
Dr. Mandaviya said, while urging federations, coaches and support staff to actively contribute towards
building a clean and transparent sporting culture in the country.
Dr. Mandaviya further highlighted the Government’s larger vision of strengthening the sports ecosystem
through initiatives such as Khelo India, Fit India Movement and the upcoming Khelo Bharat Mission.
He underlined the importance of scientific training, regular competition exposure, private sector
participation, sports leagues, academies and governance reforms to improve India’s medal prospects at the
Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and LA Olympics 2028.
During the conclave, the National Sports Governance Act 2025 Rules and Reform Guidelines Handbook
was also formally released by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The Union Sports Minister also emphasised the need to strengthen India’s sporting structure through
greater accountability, transparent athlete selection processes and sustained institutional support for
federations.
Dr. Mandaviya outlined that the Government is committed to ensuring open and fair selection systems,
enhanced competition exposure, stronger international engagement for federations and increased
investment in athletes, coaches and governance mechanisms.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Smt. Raksha Khadse emphasised the importance of long-
term planning, athlete support systems and scientific training practices in building a future-ready sporting
ecosystem for the country.
She further stated that, “India’s march towards Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics 2028
will be driven by performance, powered by science and anchored in stronger federations.”
Secretary (Sports) Shri Hari Ranjan Rao highlighted the importance of collective responsibility and long-
term planning in achieving India’s sporting ambitions.“The nation that dreams big, prepares bigger; today’s discussions will shape India’s sporting future for
2036,” he said.
Stressing the need for greater competition exposure, leagues and modern training systems, he called for
coordinated teamwork among federations and stakeholders to fulfil India’s aspirations of becoming a
global sporting powerhouse.
The conclave also featured focused discussions on India’s evolving sporting roadmap, spanning the Khelo
India Mission Medal Strategy, promotion of sports goods manufacturing, scientific fitness protocols and
athlete assessment, strengthening anti-doping laws, technical interventions for National Sports
Federations, governance and compliance under the NSG Act 2025, India’s ambition to host major
international sporting events and enhance representation in global federations, along with strategic
preparedness for the upcoming sporting events.
All sessions witnessed active participation and discussions from representatives of various federations
present at the conclave.
*****
Ayushman Kumar
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