India Launches Comprehensive Internship Policy to Boost Sports Talent
New Initiative to Foster Young Talent in Sports
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) introduced a Comprehensive Internship Policy on Tuesday, aiming to establish a structured platform for nurturing young talent and enhancing India's sports framework.
This new policy, titled 'Comprehensive Internship Policy for Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its Autonomous Bodies,' is designed to offer valuable internship experiences to college and university students within the Ministry and its affiliated organizations. It will provide them with direct exposure to sports governance, administration, and related professional fields, as stated in a release from the Union Sports Ministry.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized that this initiative will empower the youth to make significant contributions to India's sporting landscape.
"To transform India's sports ecosystem, we need strong institutional support backed by skilled professionals and young talent. This internship program opens the doors to sports governance and administration for our youth, allowing them to gain practical experience and make a lasting impact on nation-building through sports," Dr. Mandaviya remarked.
The policy will facilitate 452 internships each year across the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and its key institutions, such as the Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
The initiative aims to create a strong talent pipeline in various areas, including sports governance, administration, sports science, anti-doping, event management, and athlete support services.
This program aligns with the goals of the National Sports Policy and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, focusing on youth empowerment, capacity building, and the professionalization of sports administration.
Additionally, the policy supports India's long-term vision of cultivating a sports ecosystem that can sustain elite performance and host significant international sporting events.
Dr. Mandaviya also highlighted that the program addresses the increasing demand for professionally trained personnel as India enhances its sporting infrastructure, governance reforms, and global sports presence.
Interns will benefit from structured onboarding, mentorship from experts, and real-time exposure to policy development and execution. They will directly contribute to flagship initiatives like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), gaining experience at SAI Stadia, Regional Centres (RCs), and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs).
The internships will cover 20 functional areas, including sports management, sports science, event operations, media and communications, legal affairs, IT systems, international sports governance, and anti-doping. Special emphasis will be placed on sports science research, laboratory testing, data analysis, and scientific support for athletes. Interns at NADA will help with anti-doping awareness, legal compliance, case management, and policy support, while those at NDTL will gain insights into advanced laboratory anti-doping processes, including sample analysis and research.
The program aims to foster youth engagement, digital skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship while developing a pool of trained professionals who can contribute to policy-making, infrastructure development, media outreach, legal frameworks, sports science, and management.
Recruitment will occur twice a year, in January and July, through a centralized online portal, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and merit-based selection.
The Comprehensive Internship Programme marks a significant advancement towards promoting clean sport, transparent governance, and scientific progress, reinforcing India's dedication to fair play, athlete welfare, and excellence in sports administration.