New Delhi: In a strategic push to strengthen India’s sports sector and prepare a future-ready talent ecosystem, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has formally launched a Comprehensive Internship Policy intended to create structured, large-scale opportunities for aspiring sports professionals across the country.
The announcement, made on 23 December 2025, underscores the Indian government’s commitment to professionalising sports administration, governance, science, anti-doping processes and athlete support systems — aligning with India’s growing global ambitions in competitive sports.
Internship Policy Sports Professionals: Strengthening India’s Sports Ecosystem
The Comprehensive Internship Policy is designed as a national-level framework that places emphasis on:
- Hands-on exposure to sports governance and administration
- Training in allied professional domains within the sports ecosystem
- Bridging academic learning with real-world sports careers
Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated that the policy opens doors for India’s youth to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s sporting journey, particularly as the country enhances institutional capacities and expands its global sporting footprint.
> “This internship programme allows our youth to gain practical experience and make a long-term impact on nation-building through sports,” Dr. Mandaviya said, highlighting the transformative potential of structured professional training.
Scope of the Internship Policy: Numbers & Institutional Coverage
The new policy will offer a total of 452 internships annually across the Ministry and its core autonomous bodies:
Sports Authority of India (SAI) – India’s apex sports development body with regional centres and national excellence hubs.
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) – Ensuring clean sport through testing and awareness programs.
National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) – Scientific testing and research against performance-enhancing use.
These opportunities will be made available to college and university students from diverse academic disciplines, especially those pursuing fields such as sports science, administration, event management, physiotherapy, nutrition, and related professions.
What Interns Can Expect: Practical Engagement Across Domains
The programme is structured to ensure that interns receive meaningful, real-world exposure to:
Sports Governance & Policy Making: Insight into how national policies are designed and implemented.
Administration & Operations: Practical work across government bodies managing national sports programs.
Anti-Doping & Athlete Support Services: Exposure to scientific protocols and athlete services that uphold fair play.
Event Management: Inclusion in planning and execution phases of national and international sporting events.
This blend of policy, science, and operational learning creates a broad platform for students to understand and contribute directly to the fast-evolving sports landscape in India.
Strategic Importance of Internship Policy Sports Professionals
The internship policy arrives at a time when India is intensifying efforts to elevate its global sporting status, from grassroots initiatives like Khelo India to international hosting aspirations for events like the Commonwealth Games 2030 and a bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
The structured programme is expected to:
- Develop a professional sports workforce
- Support scientific and ethical standards in sports
- Promote athlete welfare and performance analytics
- Encourage innovative and interdisciplinary career paths in sports sectors
By integrating students into government bodies and high-impact operational roles, the internship policy serves not only as a training ground but also as a feeder for long-term professional roles in sports administration and allied fields.
National Context: Alignment with Broader Sports Reforms
The government’s internship initiative dovetails with broader reforms and legislation — such as the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 — shaping a modern, transparent, and accountable sports administration framework in India.
By fostering early engagement of educated youth in the sports sector, MYAS aims to create a sustainable talent pipeline that is equipped to manage India’s accelerating ambitions both domestically and on the world stage.
