Abhinav Bindra-led Task Force charts roadmap for reforms in sports administration

As India sharpens its ambition to break into the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and build momentum towards hosting the Olympic Games, the government has turned its focus to strengthening the country’s sports administration backbone.

As part of this effort, the department constituted a Task Force on Capacity Building of Sports Administrators, chaired by Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, to develop a structured roadmap for enhancing administrative capability across the sporting ecosystem. The Task Force has recently submitted its report to the Sports Department for consideration.

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The report underscores that achieving a transformative vision for Indian sport, including ambitions such as hosting the Olympic Games, will require a cadre of professional, accountable, and future-ready sports administrators. It stresses that governance reforms must run parallel to athlete development and infrastructure growth.

Among its key recommendations is the establishment of a National Council for Sports Education & Capacity Building (NCSECB). The proposed body would function as an autonomous statutory authority under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, responsible for regulating, accrediting, and certifying sports administration education and training programmes nationwide.

The Task Force has also proposed the introduction of a five-level Capability Maturity Model (CMM) as a diagnostic and planning tool. The framework would enable institutions such as the Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Sports Federations (NSFs), and state sports departments to assess their organisational maturity across areas, including cadre structures, curriculum adoption, digital enablement, and athlete development pathways. The model is intended to support evidence-based monitoring and facilitate targeted interventions.

Recognising the pivotal role played by civil servants in policy implementation, the report recommends integrating sports governance modules into the induction and advanced training programmes of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and State Civil Service officers. It further suggests linking such training to practical application and career progression through structured placements, a national accreditation registry, and closer alignment with policy frameworks.

To ensure administrators gain hands-on experience, the Task Force has also called for rotational postings, apprenticeship models, innovation labs, and partnerships involving sports federations, government bodies and the private sector. These measures aim to promote skill application while creating sustainable professional growth pathways.

The Department of Sports is currently examining the Task Force’s recommendations and is expected to take further steps as part of its broader push to professionalise India’s sports governance ecosystem.

Several reforms have already been initiated. In May 2025, the department revised the norms under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, allowing NSFs to allocate up to 10 percent of their total funding towards administrative manpower. This change is aimed at ensuring federations have access to qualified professionals and technical expertise.

Additionally, NSFs are now permitted to spend up to 2.5 per cent of their annual budgets on administrative operations, legal services, and the engagement of specialised young professionals or interns. Federations have also been mandated to put in place appropriate administrative structures and follow transparent recruitment processes for staff appointments.

Together, these measures seek to build a globally credible, athlete-centric governance framework that supports India’s long-term sporting ambitions. The government has further reinforced this vision through the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, laying the foundation for sustained progress well beyond 2036.