Sports Guide · How sport works · Who runs Indian sport
Who runs sport in India — MYAS, SAI, IOA, federations, TOPS and NADA
Education Margdarshan's plain map of Indian sport: which office does what, where the money comes from, how TOPS and Khelo India pay players, what the new National Sports Governance Act changes, and the anti-doping rules every player — even a beginner — must follow, including the new world code from 1 January 2027.
01 The map
Who does what in Indian sport
The main bodies [1][3][4][5][6][12]
| Body | What it does for a player |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS, Department of Sports) | Makes sports policy and pays for schemes like Khelo India and TOPS |
| Sports Authority of India (SAI) | Runs National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres and coaches |
| Indian Olympic Association (IOA) | India's National Olympic Committee — sends India's team to the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games |
| Paralympic Committee of India | India's National Paralympic Committee — sends the para team |
| National Sports Federation of each sport | Runs national championships, makes rules, picks the Indian team (example: Athletics Federation of India) |
| NADA India | Runs anti-doping testing and education in India |
| National Sports Board and National Sports Tribunal (new) | The Board recognises sports bodies; the Tribunal settles sports disputes |
The Indian team for a big event is picked by the federation of that sport, and the IOA enters it. For example, the Athletics Federation of India selects India's athletics team for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. [5]
02 Where the money comes from
Government schemes that pay for players
Main schemes [1][2]
| Scheme | Who it is for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| KIRTI talent hunt | Children aged 9 to 18 | Tests at 174 Talent Assessment Centres (1,87,921 tests done) to spot talent |
| Khelo India Centres | Local players | 1,067 centres for grassroots training |
| Khelo India Athlete | Scouted national talent | ₹6.28 lakh a year for training, coaching, education and kit — ₹1.20 lakh of it as cash |
| TOPS Development Group | Junior medal hopes | ₹25,000 a month |
| TOPS Core Group | Olympic and Paralympic medal hopes | ₹50,000 a month + foreign training, competitions, camps and equipment |
| PDU National Welfare Fund | Players in money trouble | Up to ₹2.50 lakh |
| Pension | Retired champions | ₹12,000 to ₹20,000 a month |
- TOPS began in September 2014 and was revamped in April 2018. As of April 2026 it supported 51 Core, 52 Para Core and 130 Development athletes. [1]
- ASMITA women's leagues: by Dec 2024, 766 competitions in 20 sports with 83,763 women players.
- RESET (from 29 August 2024) trains retired players for new jobs. [14]
03 New law and policy
The National Sports Governance Act and the new sports policy
- Parliament passed the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill on 12 August 2025. [10]
- The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 was notified on 18 August 2025. Its first parts came into force on 1 January 2026: rules for the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee and the sports federations, the National Sports Board and the National Sports Tribunal. [11]
- The National Sports Board (a chairperson and two members) gives recognition to sports bodies and checks that they follow governance, money and ethics rules.
- The National Sports Tribunal settles sports disputes — faster and cheaper than ordinary courts — with an online portal and virtual hearings. [12]
- The National Sports Policy 2025 (Khelo Bharat Niti) replaced the 2001 policy. It aims at excellence up to the 2036 Olympics, joins sport with school education under NEP 2020, and supports dual careers, women, tribal communities and persons with disabilities. [13]
04 Clean sport
Anti-doping — rules every player must know
- NADA India is an autonomous body under the Sports Ministry. It runs testing, education and TUEs, and its rules apply to everyone — players and their coaches, doctors and support staff.
- Saw doping? Report it to speakup-nada@gov.in — your identity is protected. [6]
- Strict liability: if a banned substance is in your sample, you are responsible — even if it came from a supplement. No supplement is 100% safe; eat food first and talk to a qualified nutritionist. [8]
- You must be available for testing and check every medicine against the Prohibited List. If you truly need a banned medicine, apply for a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption). [7]
The 2027 World Anti-Doping Code — what changes for you [9]
| Change | What it means |
|---|---|
| In force | 1 January 2027; the Code is updated about every 6 years |
| Who it covers | Players at every level — international, national and even recreational — plus coaches, trainers, doctors and parents |
| Protected Persons | Players under 16 (and 16–18-year-olds not in a testing pool) get extra protection |
| Faster TUEs | A decision within 21 days of a complete TUE application |
| TUEs carry over | A national TUE is automatically recognised by your world federation when you go international |
05 Quick doubts
Straight answers
How do I get into TOPS?
TOPS is for India's Olympic and Paralympic medal hopes (Core) and top juniors (Development). You cannot apply as a beginner — you are picked on results at the national and international level. The usual road is state and national medals, then a Khelo India Athlete place, then TOPS. [1][15]
Can a cough syrup or protein powder get me banned?
It can. Under strict liability you are responsible for anything in your sample. Check every medicine against the Prohibited List, ask for a TUE if you need a banned medicine, and remember that no supplement is 100% safe. [8][7]
06 Official sources & verification
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from an official body's own file or a Government of India document below, read on 18 October 2026. Numbers, dates and rules change — open the current file before you act on it.
- PIB — The Making of a Sporting Nation (27 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) MYAS budget 2026-27, Khelo India centres and athletes, TOPS history, amounts and numbers (April 2026), KIRTI (174 centres, 1,87,921 assessments) · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (Lok Sabha reply, 5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India ₹6.28 lakh, welfare fund, pension · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (NCOE, STC, NSTC) (opens in a new tab) SAI's National Centres of Excellence and Training Centres · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- PIB Factsheet — Asian Games 2026: India's Journey from New Delhi to Aichi-Nagoya (6 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab) IOA organised the team send-off; Paralympic Committee of India as India's National Paralympic Committee · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- Athletics Federation of India — Qualification guidelines for selection of the Indian team for Asian Games 2026 (8 May 2026) (opens in a new tab) AFI's role: affiliated to World Athletics, MYAS and IOA; selects India's athletics teams · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- NADA India — official website (opens in a new tab) NADA as an autonomous body under MYAS, TUE booklet, whereabouts, rules apply to all, speakup-nada@gov.in · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing availability, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Supplement risk, strict liability, food-first approach · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Athletics Integrity Unit — The 2027 Code Companion for Athletes (updated June 2026) (opens in a new tab) 2027 Code in force 1 Jan 2027, who it covers, Protected Persons, 21-day TUE decisions, automatic TUE recognition · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Indian sports fraternity lauds passage of National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 and National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 (opens in a new tab) Both bills passed by Parliament on 12 August 2025 · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Notification of commencement of select provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (opens in a new tab) Act notified 18 Aug 2025; provisions in force from 1 Jan 2026 · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Government notifies National Sports Governance Board Rules and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 (opens in a new tab) Board of a chairperson and two members, recognition role; Tribunal for sports disputes with portal and virtual hearings · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025 (1 Jul 2025) (opens in a new tab) Replaces 2001 policy; 2036 goal; five pillars; dual careers; inclusion · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Year End Review 2024: Department of Sports (20 Dec 2024) (opens in a new tab) ASMITA women's leagues; RESET programme for retired athletes · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India Scheme and enhanced Assistance to National Sports Federations (31 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) Progression path from grassroots to Khelo India to TOPS · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Certificates only from federations recognised by MoYAS · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) Championships of MoYAS-recognised federations or the IOA's National Games only · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
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