Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports advises National Sports Federations to constitute ‘Make in India in Sports’ and ‘International Relations’ Committees

1. At a Glance

• Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has advised all recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs) to constitute two new internal Committees: International Relations (IR) and Make in India in Sports (MIIS) [S1].
• Twin objective: deepen India's sports diplomacy and global engagement, and grow the indigenous sports-goods manufacturing ecosystem under Atmanirbhar Bharat / Make in India [S1].
• Comes alongside the rollout of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 — a structural reform of NSF governance — making this examinable for both schemes and laws [S2][S3].

2. Why in the News

• PIB advisory issued 13 January 2026 by MYAS to all recognised NSFs to set up the two Committees and report composition within fixed deadlines [S1].
• Comes on the heels of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (assented 18 August 2025) and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 [S2][S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• National Sports Policy 2025 — approved by Union Cabinet in 2025; emphasises Viksit Bharat 2047, sports as economic sector, and Make in India in sports goods [S4].
• National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 — passed Lok Sabha 11 Aug 2025, Rajya Sabha 12 Aug 2025, Presidential assent 18 Aug 2025 [S3].
• Select provisions of the Act commenced via notification in late 2025; subsequent rule-making in 2026 (NSB, Tribunal, Search-cum-Selection Committee, National Sports Bodies Rules) [S2][S3].
• The IR + MIIS Committees advisory (Jan 2026) operationalises the professionalised governance orientation of the Act at the federation level [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Issuing body: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Govt. of India [S1].
• Addressees: All recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs) [S1].
• Two Committees to be constituted:
• International Relations Committee — track International Federations (IFs) & Continental Federations (CFs): rule/structure changes, governance, elections, athlete-centric programmes; design medium-term cooperation plan covering bilateral/multilateral MoUs, joint training camps, exchange programmes, knowledge sharing, hosting international events in India [S1].
• Make in India in Sports Committee — engage Indian manufacturers, start-ups, research institutions, testing & standardisation bodies for product development, trials, certification of sports equipment [S1].
• Composition: Senior federation members, former international athletes, coaches, and subject experts with proven global sports administration/diplomacy experience [S1].
• Reporting deadlines: 30 days for IR Committee details; 60 days for MIIS Committee details to be communicated to the Ministry [S1].
• Statutory backdrop: National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (Presidential assent 18 Aug 2025) [S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Boosts the domestic sports goods industry (historically concentrated in Meerut, Jalandhar); aligns NSF demand with Indian manufacturers/start-ups [S1]. - Reduces import dependence on equipment for Olympic-cycle sports; potential MSME and start-up linkages [S1].

Geopolitical / Strategic (Sports Diplomacy) - Institutionalises sports diplomacy within every NSF; supports India's interest in hosting global events (e.g., Olympic bid ambitions) [S1]. - Mandates structured tracking of elections in IFs/CFs — improves India's voice in global sporting bodies [S1].

Administrative / Governance - Layers a professionalised committee structure onto NSFs, complementing the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and 2026 Rules (NSB, Tribunal, Search-cum-Selection) [S2][S3]. - Domain-expert composition counters earlier criticism of NSFs as opaque, official-dominated bodies [S1][S5].

Scientific / Technological - MIIS Committee links NSFs with R&D institutions and standardisation/testing bodies for certified sports equipment — relevant for BIS standards and Olympic-grade gear [S1].

Ethical / Federalism - Sport is in the State List, but Centre uses NSF recognition/funding as the lever; advisory route avoids constitutional friction while shaping federation behaviour [S1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• 2025: Union Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025 [S4].
• 11–18 Aug 2025: Parliament passes & President assents National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025 [S3].
• Late 2025: Notification of commencement of select provisions of the 2025 Act [S2].
• 2026: Notification of National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026; Search-cum-Selection Committee Rules, 2026; National Sports Board & National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 [S2].
• 13 Jan 2026: MYAS advisory to NSFs to constitute IR and MIIS Committees [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Advisory issued by Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (not Ministry of Commerce, despite "Make in India" tag) [S1].
• Two Committees mandated: International Relations and Make in India in Sports [S1].
• Deadline to report: 30 days (IR) and 60 days (MIIS) [S1].
• Addressees: recognised National Sports Federations (not state associations) [S1].
• Linked policy umbrella: Atmanirbhar Bharat / Make in India [S1].
• National Sports Governance Act, 2025 — Presidential assent 18 August 2025 [S3].
• Bodies created under 2025 Act: National Sports Board (NSB) and National Sports Tribunal [S2].
• IR Committee tracks International Federations (IFs) and Continental Federations (CFs) [S1].
• National Sports Policy 2025 approved by Union Cabinet [S4].
• Composition requirement: includes former international athletes & coaches [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies & interventions; statutory/regulatory bodies (NSFs, NSB, Tribunal).
• GS-II (IR): India and its neighbourhood / bilateral groupings — sports diplomacy as soft power.
• GS-III: Indian economy — Make in India, MSME, indigenous manufacturing.
• Probable questions: 1. "Sports diplomacy is the new frontier of India's soft power." Discuss in light of recent institutional measures by MYAS. 2. Examine how the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 and recent NSF-level reforms address structural weaknesses in Indian sports administration. 3. To what extent can 'Make in India in Sports' reduce India's import dependence in sporting equipment? Suggest measures.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Sports Governance Act, 2025 — parent law for NSF reform [S3].
• National Sports Policy 2025 — overarching vision [S4].
• National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Act, 2025 / NADA / WADA — companion legislation [S3].
• Khelo India & TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) — funding pipeline.
• Make in India / PLI schemes — manufacturing ecosystem link.
• India's bid for 2036 Olympics — direct sports-diplomacy hook.
• Sports Authority of India (SAI) — executive arm.
• National Sports Board & National Sports Tribunal (2026 Rules) — dispute resolution and oversight [S2].

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing the advisory's "Make in India" angle with Ministry of Commerce/DPIIT — it is MYAS [S1].
• Mixing up the 30-day vs 60-day reporting deadlines (IR = 30; MIIS = 60) [S1].
• Treating the Committees as statutory under the 2025 Act — they are advisory-based, internal to NSFs [S1].
• Confusing National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (2025) with National Sports Development Code, 2011 (executive code).
• Assuming NSFs = State sports associations; advisory targets nationally recognised federations only [S1].

11. Sources

• [S1] Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports advises NSFs to constitute 'Make in India in Sports' and 'International Relations' Committees, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2214019 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Government Notifies National Sports Governance Board Rules and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2265248 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Indian Sports Fraternity Hails Passage of National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2156401 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2141138 — (tier 1)
• [S5] Professionalized Sports Governance Through Comprehensive Capacity-Building Framework, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2209723 — (tier 1)