Parliament Question: Lack of Professionalism in National Sport Federation

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1295 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025 Lack of Professionalism in National Sport Federation 1295. SHRI NAVEEN JINDAL: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is addressing the issue of factionalism and lack of professionalism within National Sports Federations, if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the efforts being made by the Government to identify and nurture sports talent at the grassroots levels, particularly in rural and tribal areas; (c) the manner in which the Government is promoting Public-Private Partnerships in the sports sector; (d) whether it is a fact that the retired sportspersons face difficulties in receiving welfare and pension benefits after their retirement and the steps taken by the Government to ensure timely disbursal of life time pension benefits along with the details of the measures to integrate retired athletes as coaches and mentors in the sports ecosystem; and (e) the details of the progress made under the Retired Sportsperson Empowered Training (RESET) Programme and the manner in which the programme is helping retired athletes transition to new careers? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) National Sports Federations (NSFs) are voluntary bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 / Trusts Act / Companies Act. The Government recognizes one federation each fora particular sport as per the procedure laid down in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (Sports Code). The Sports Code requires the NSFs to follow healthy management practices, accountability, transparency, impartial and transparent selection procedures, age and tenure restrictions of office bearers, basic universal principles of good governance in sports, proper accounting procedures, prevention of age fraud & sexual harassment of women, and holding of elections as per model election guidelines. Recently, the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 has been enacted to provide, inter alia, for the resolution of sports grievances and sports disputes in a unified, equitable and effective manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. (b) Sports Authority of India (SAI) under Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is implementing the following Sports Promotional Schemes across the country including tribal youth to identify talented sportspersons at grassroots levels in the various age groups and nurture them to excel at national and international levels: • National Centres of Excellence (NCOE) • SAI Training Centre (STC) • Extension Centre of STC • National Sports Talent Contest (NSTC) (its Sub-Schemes - Regular Schools, IGMA & Akharas) Further, under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs, financial assistance is provided to the recognized NSFs for training of athletes, which includes all requisite support for training, participation in international events, conduct of national championships, conduct of international tournaments in India, engagement of foreign coaches/support staff, scientific & medical support etc. It has been provisioned that at least 20% of their annual budget is earmarked for grassroots development through their affiliate units to ensure development of bench strength, by the NSFs. (c) The Government is actively promoting Public–Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sports sector with a view to mobilising additional financial and technical resources for the holistic development of sports in the country. The Government encouragescorporate entities to channelize their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds into the sports sector through the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for supporting infrastructure, training, and allied services. Corporates are encouraged to enter into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) committing CSR funds for various developmental activities, including talent identification programmes, participation of athletes in international competitions, procurement of sports equipment, engagement of support personnel, and human resource development in sports. Further, NSFs receive sponsorship support from corporate partners and public-sector entitles towards hosting international competitions in India. (d) Under the Scheme of Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, the applications are received through online mode through https://dbtyas-sports.gov.in/. The monthly pension is disbursed through LIC. The amount of pension ranges from Rs.12,000 to Rs.20,000/- depending on the achievement of the sportspersons at international level. (e) The Ministry launched the Retired Sportsperson Empowerment Training (RESET) program on August 29, 2024, which aims to facilitate career development for retired athletes. This program will provide specialized education for their academic growth of retired athletes, along with internships, and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to transition to a suitable career option. The RESET program provides retired athletes with opportunities to hone their skills through internships with sports organizations, sports competitions/training camps, and leagues; and educational institutions under the Ministry’s guidance and support to retired athletes by providing placement assistance, business guidance and more. The 1st batch of courses under RESET programme was conducted at Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior from 4th October, 2024 to 7th December, 2024. *****