Operational guidelines covering the revised Assistance to National Sports Federations programme have been released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, setting out updated norms across a range of components after cabinet approval extended the scheme through the 16th Finance Commission window — running from 2026-27 to 2030-31 — at a sanctioned expenditure of ₹7,386.74 crore.
Designed to help Indian athletes build towards top-tier competitions — including the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Paralympics, and World Championships — the programme serves as their foremost avenue for preparation funding and support.
Funding channelled through the scheme covers a broad range of athlete and organisational needs: national coaching camps and academy-based training; costs tied to athletes themselves, spanning accommodation, meals, kit, insurance, and sports science provision; the hiring of overseas coaches, High Performance Directors, and support staff including physiotherapists, sports scientists, and medical personnel; travel and competition expenses for international events; national championships at senior, junior, and sub-junior levels; programmes aimed at grassroots participation and the nurturing of young talent; and operational and governance assistance directed at national sports federations.
Among the additions folded into the updated plan are several fresh strategic elements tied to hosting ambitions for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and a prospective 2036 Olympic bid. Funding available to support the hosting of international tournaments on Indian soil has been raised under the updated policy framework.
Funding of as much as ₹50 crore is now available to National Sports Federations looking to stage international competitions, with the precise amount tied to factors such as the event's scale, the number of nations represented, and the total athlete count involved. A panel designated for the purpose, operating under the Secretary (Sports) as its chair, will carry out the evaluation of all submitted proposals.
Plans are in place to build Olympic Training Centres fitted with up-to-date sports science technology, aimed at delivering athlete preparation programmes at an elevated standard. Devoted entirely to one sport apiece, each centre is set to offer purpose-built training infrastructure alongside qualified coaching staff, with the aim of reducing how often athletes travel abroad for preparation. Coaches, technical staff, sports science practitioners, and specialist equipment will be made available to top-level Indian athletes based at those training facilities, along with dedicated technical guidance.
Under the updated framework, funding of as much as ₹50 crore becomes available to support the hosting of National Games, with the allocation reflecting the scale at which such an event is expected to be staged. Funding under the arrangement will extend to athletic gear, the Timing, Scoring and Results (TSR) suite of services, pay for technical officials, and the running of technical operations.
Under the updated framework, national sports federations overseeing indigenous disciplines stand to receive dedicated support aimed at broadening those sports' footprint on the world stage. Funding channelled through those federations could open a path toward placing indigenous sports on the programme of major international competitions — among them the Olympics, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games — initially as demonstration events. Beyond forming new bodies in other countries, the plan extends funding and logistical backing to international and continental governing bodies for indigenous sports that maintain their administrative bases within India.
Athlete development infrastructure across the country spans both Sports Authority of India-managed venues and independently operated facilities equipped for elite-level preparation. Through scholarship programmes and subsidised access to training venues, the infrastructure opens a path for athletes and coaches from Global South nations to develop their skills, positioning the country as a prospective partner within that broader network.
Funding support for cross-border cooperation efforts forms part of what the updated plan sets out. Under the updated plan, funding becomes available to bodies such as BRICS and BIMSTEC — along with comparable multilateral groupings — to host sporting events, convene conferences and meetings tied to athletics, and carry out research initiatives and workshops.
Under the revised arrangement, both National Sports Federations and the National Olympic Committee become eligible to draw on dedicated funding streams that sustain internationally and continentally affiliated sports organisations with a presence in India. Each application will be reviewed individually, with funding decisions guided by the recommendations of a designated committee operating under the leadership of the Secretary (Sports).
