Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Education on 12th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report details the governance, structure, and financial framework for CBSE Sports Competitions as presented by the Minister of State for Education in the Rajya Sabha on August 12, 2026. It outlines the tiered competition format, age-based eligibility requirements, and the allocation of fixed sports grants for the 2023–2026 period. Critical mandates include the mandatory hiring of qualified technical officials and the submission of audited expenditure reports via the CBSE Integrated Payment System (IPS).
Key Points / Main Content
Competition Structure and Classification
Tiered Levels: Events are organized at Cluster (state-based), Zonal, and National levels.
Game Categorization: High-participation games (e.g., Athletics, Basketball) begin at the Cluster level, while lower-participation games (e.g., Archery, Boxing) start at the Zonal level. Aerobics, Gymnastics, and Rope Skipping are held directly at the National level.
Progression: Winners from Cluster and Zonal levels qualify for the National level, while foreign schools qualify directly via Foreign Zones.
Eligibility and Participation
Registration: Students must register online using a UID-based system and confirm participation with the organizing school.
Age Cut-offs: Eligibility is determined as of 31 December of the event year. For the 2026-27 cycle, cut-offs range from Under-11 (born on/after 01.01.2016) to Under-19 (born on/after 01.01.2008).
Requirements for Organising Schools
Selection Process: Schools are selected based on online applications, Regional Sports Committee recommendations, and National Sports Committee finalization.
Infrastructure: Schools must possess adequate infrastructure, preferably meeting Sports Authority of India (SAI) specifications, and must provide video evidence of facilities.
Technical Staff: Organizers are responsible for hiring qualified umpires, referees, and officials from recognized District/State Sports Associations or Federations.
Financial Provisions and Accountability
Fixed Grants: Grants are provided based on the event level: Rs 2,00,000 for Cluster/Zonal and Rs 3,00,000 for National level. Athletics and Swimming receive higher allocations (up to Rs 5,00,000 for Nationals).
Budgetary Allocation: Total grants allotted were Rs 6.32 crore (2023-24), Rs 12.13 crore (2024-25), and Rs 9.00 crore (2025-26).
Audit Requirements: Schools must submit a detailed Statement of Income & Expenditure and a Utilisation Certificate, audited by a Chartered Accountant, to the IPS portal.
Grievance and Dispute Resolution
Protest Protocol: Written protests must be submitted to the Organising Secretary within 30 minutes of result declaration, accompanied by a Rs 1,000 fee.
Final Authority: The Jury of Appeal reviews protests; their decision is final, binding, and reported to the CBSE Sports Cell.
Impact Analysis
Organising SchoolsImpact: They bear the administrative and legal responsibility for event conduct, infrastructure compliance, and financial transparency.
Action Required: Apply through the online portal, hire certified technical officials, and ensure all expenditures are audited by a CA before uploading to the IPS portal.
Student AthletesImpact: Participation is strictly regulated by age brackets and performance-based qualification.
Action Required: Ensure UID-based online registration is completed and adhere to specific age eligibility dates for their respective categories.
District/State Sports AssociationsImpact: These bodies serve as the primary source for technical expertise and fair play oversight.
Action Required: Provide technically qualified and experienced referees and officials upon request from organizing schools.
CBSE Sports CellImpact: Acts as the central regulatory and oversight body for all competitions and financial disbursements.
Action Required: Review audited accounts, process grant allocations, and maintain the final record of Jury of Appeal decisions.
Key Entities Referenced
CBSE Games (Guidelines): The comprehensive regulatory framework governing the structure, eligibility criteria, and technical conduct of sports competitions across Cluster, Zonal, and National levels.
CBSE Sports Grant: A fixed financial allocation provided by CBSE to organizing schools to cover expenses such as technical officials, equipment, and ground maintenance.
CBSE Sports Cell: The administrative unit responsible for oversight, handling grievances reported by the Jury of Appeal, and addressing stakeholder queries.
CBSE Integrated Payment System (IPS): The digital portal used by organizing schools to upload audited expenditure details and Utilisation Certificates for grant accountability.
National Sports Committee: The body responsible for the final selection of schools to organize competitions based on infrastructure adequacy and regional recommendations.
Ministry of Education
Parliament Question: Conduct of CBSE Sports
Competitions and Technical Assistance
प्रव तथ: 12 AUG 2026 6:36PM by PIB Delhi
CBSE Games are governed by the comprehensive CBSE Games (Guidelines) (available on the CBSE
sports portal) and the annual circulars (e.g., Circular No. Acad 19/2026). Key provisions include:
I. Structure: Events are held at Cluster level (broadly state-based; higher-participation games such as
Athletics, Basketball, Football (Boys), Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Table Tennis, Volleyball), Zonal level
(for lower-participation games such as Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Chess, Football (Girls),
Handball, Hockey, Judo, Shooting, Skating, Swimming, Taekwondo, Tennis, Yogasana), and
National level. Certain games (Aerobics, Gymnastics, and Rope Skipping) are held directly at
National level.
II. Age criteria: Calculated as on 31 December of the year of the event (e.g., for 2026- 27: Under-11
born on/after 01.01.2016; Under-14 on/after 01.01.2013; Under-17 on/after 01.01.2010; Under-19
on/after 01.01.2008).
III. Eligibility and participation: Online registration of students (UID-based), application to participate,
and confirmation to the organising school. The winners of Cluster/Zonal level competitions qualify
for Nationals. Foreign schools compete under Foreign Zone(s) and qualify directly to Nationals.
IV. Organising schools: Selected via online applications, Regional Sports Committee
recommendations, and finalisation by the National Sports Committee. Schools must have adequate
infrastructure (preferably as per SAI specifications) and upload supporting videos.
V. Other rules: Cover eligibility documents, disqualification, safety measures, accommodation/meals
(participants typically pay a prescribed daily charge), certificates (online generation); medals
provided by CBSE, and sport-specific rules (generally aligned with recognised federations/SGFI
where applicable). In case of clash/ambiguity, the latest circular prevails.
As per the CBSE Games (Guidelines), the organising school is responsible for hiring technically qualified
and experienced umpires/referees/game officials from the District/State Sports Associations/Federations of
the concerned game to ensure fair play.
CBSE provides a fixed Sports Grant to organising schools (not a variable year-wise budgetary allocation
published separately for this purpose). As per the current Guidelines and Circulars (consistent across
recent years, including 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26 provisions):Cluster/Zonal level: Rs 2,00,000
National level: Rs 3,00,000
Athletics and Swimming: Rs 4,00,000 (Cluster/Zonal) and Rs 5,00,000 (National).
Year Total Grant allotted to schools in र
2023-2024 6,32,00,000
2024-2025 12,13,00,000
2025-2026 9,00,00,000
The grant is to be utilised for the approved heads (payment to referees/ technical officials/ observers,
ground maintenance, sports equipments, tentage, videography, miscellaneous, etc.).
Organising schools must submit expenditure details in the prescribed Proforma along with a Utilisation
Certificate certifying that the grant has been fully utilised for the sanctioned purpose. The proforma
includes a detailed Statement of Income & Expenditure (covering accommodation, equipment, first-aid,
tentage, referees/officials, ceremonies, photography, TA/DA to Observer, transport, etc.). The organising
schools are required to get the proforma and accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant before uploading
on CBSE Integrated Payment System (IPS) portal.
CBSE gets these proformas and accounts audited by internal as well as external audit teams.
Fair conduct and adherence to rules: Technically qualified officials from the concerned District/State
Sports Associations/Federations are hired by the organizing schools to ensure fair play.
Grievance/Protest mechanism: Any protest must be submitted in writing to the Organising Secretary
within 30 minutes of the declaration of the result, accompanied by a fee of Rs 1,000. It is considered by
the Jury of Appeal. Parties are heard. If the protest is upheld, the fee is refunded; otherwise, it is forfeited.
The Jury’s decision is final and binding and is reported (with full facts) to the CBSE Sports Cell.
All stakeholders are directed to follow the Rules of Sports & Games, and CBSE Games (Guidelines)
available on the CBSE sports portal. Queries may be addressed to the CBSE Sports Cell (e.g., via the
contact details given in the circulars).
This information was given by the Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written
reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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