Abhinav Bindra-led Task Force points to systemic gaps constraining sports governance in the country; Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya assures all recommendations will be implemented
Abhinav Bindra
An Abhinav Bindra-led Task Force set up by the Sports Ministry has pointed out “systemic deficits” in India’s sports administration, including “inadequate and ill-equipped” athletes for governance roles, and recommended the setting up of an autonomous statutory body to train a specialised cadre that would also feature IAS officers.
In-depth report
The 170-page report has been submitted to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who on Tuesday said “all its recommendations will be implemented,”
To address the current “gaps” that ail the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the state departments, the committee has recommended that a National Council for Sports Education and Capacity Building (NCSECB) be set up under the Ministry “to regulate, accredit, and certify sports administration training.”
The nine-member Task Force was set up in August this year and featured, among others Adille Sumariwala and former Target Olympic Podium Scheme’s CEO Cdr Rajesh Rajagopalan. “This report is both diagnostic and prescriptive. It identifies the structural, functional, and systemic gaps that currently constrain sports governance, but more importantly, it charts a roadmap for transformation,” said Bindra in its preface.
The Task Force was entrusted with a wide-ranging mandate and it included evaluation of the current administrative framework across institutions such as SAI, NSFs and state associations.
The SAI came in for some heavy scrutiny from the Task Force along with the state sports departments. “Neither SAI nor state departments have a dedicated sports administration service. Instead, roles are filled by generalist civil servants or contractual staff, often lacking sector-specific expertise. This has resulted in ad-hoc decision-making, weak institutional continuity, and an absence of long-term professionalisation.”
The panel then mentioned the “poor coordination” between SAI, NSFs, and state departments, calling it “fragmented.” “Overlapping roles, duplication of functions, and unclear accountability frameworks reduce efficiency and create systemic bottlenecks,” it said.
No system for training
The panel also noted that while the soon-to-be-implemented National Sports Governance Act makes athlete representation in NSF Executive Committees mandatory, there is no system in place to train them for the job.
“India does not yet have a structured Dual Athlete Career Pathway integrated with the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model, which supports athletes in combining elite performance with education, leadership, and governance skills,” it said.
Over-centralisation of authority in NSFs was cited as a major governance concern. “In many NSFs, the president exercises disproportionate control over operations, finance, and appointments. This contrasts sharply with global norms, where governance and execution are clearly separated.
The panel also recommended that IAS and state cadre officers must be trained in structured sports governance given their central role in implementation. “Civil service academies should integrate sports governance training to sensitise future bureaucrats.”
Task Force’s key recommendations
. Setting up of an autonomous statutory body — National Council for Sports Education and Capacity Building (NCSECB) — to train a specialised cadre that would also feature IAS officers
. Civil service academies should integrate sports governance training to sensitise future bureaucrats
. Improve coordination between Sports Authority of India (SAI) , National Sports Federations (NSFs), and state departments for clearer accountability
. Reduce amount of presidential control in the functioning of NSFs. Governance and execution need to be separated
. India requires a Dual Athlete Career Pathway to be integrated into the Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model to train retired athletes in administration, leadership, and governance
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