MYAS Unveils Gateway to Elite Sports Governance
New Delhi: India’s youth now have a golden ticket to dive into the heart of the nation’s booming sports world—452 paid internships launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) to turn passionate students into future leaders of athletics, fitness, and fair play.
The three key institutions involved in this expansive program are the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the Sports Authority of India, known as SAI, the National Anti-Doping Agency, referred to as NADA, and the National Dope Testing Laboratory, or NDTL.
Announced today by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, this Comprehensive Internship Policy creates a structured pathway for college students, researchers, and young professionals to gain practical experience in sports administration, management, science, and governance, perfectly timed as India expands its facilities and aims to shine brighter on the global stage.
Mandaviya highlighted how the initiative opens doors for the younger generation to learn directly from experts while contributing to national progress, addressing the urgent need for trained manpower in policy-making, infrastructure, and international competitions. The policy draws inspiration from broader national frameworks focused on capacity building, clean sport, and professional governance, ensuring participants align with efforts to promote mass participation, elite performance, and ethical standards.
Annually, these 452 positions are spread across the ministry’s headquarters in New Delhi and the wide-reaching networks of its autonomous bodies. Placements at the Sports Authority of India offer the broadest scope, including its central offices in the capital, iconic stadia like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, eleven regional centres in places such as Chandigarh, Sonipat, Lucknow, Guwahati, Imphal, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gandhinagar, plus numerous National Centres of Excellence scattered throughout the country where top athletes train intensively. Opportunities with the National Anti-Doping Agency centre primarily at its New Delhi offices within the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex, focusing on integrity and education. The National Dope Testing Laboratory provides specialised lab-based roles at its state-of-the-art facility, also in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium area on Lodhi Road.
Interns engage in over twenty domains, from event operations and media communications to legal affairs, information technology systems, and international sports relations. Many contribute to cornerstone programs like Khelo India, which scouts and nurtures grassroots talent while encouraging widespread fitness; the Target Olympic Podium Scheme and Target Asian Games Group, dedicated to backing high-potential athletes for medal success; and the Fit India Movement, pushing health awareness nationwide.
Those at the Sports Authority of India might assist in athlete-centric innovations, performance data analysis, or coordinating at regional hubs and excellence centres. National Anti-Doping Agency’s roles involve supporting awareness campaigns, reviewing compliance, managing cases, and shaping policies to uphold fair competition. At the National Dope Testing Laboratory, the emphasis lies on scientific processes, including hands-on sample handling, advanced analytical research, equipment familiarisation, project development, and interpreting results in line with world-class anti-doping protocols.
The program’s goals extend to offering deep insights into government operations, sparking digital innovation and entrepreneurial ideas in sports promotion, and forging a reliable cadre of experts ready for challenges in infrastructure, outreach, and athlete support. It promotes youth involvement while advancing clean practices, transparency, and scientific progress.
To join, interested Indian citizens, generally aged 20 to 25 and holding relevant postgraduate qualifications in fields like sports management or science, prepare a statement of purpose explaining their motivation, a detailed resume, and endorsement from their institution if enrolled. Exceptional cases may allow flexibility on age or nationality with proper clearances. Applications flow through a dedicated centralised online portal, rolling out in two cycles—December openings for January starts and June for July—with each term lasting six months to provide immersive exposure.
Successful applicants enjoy structured induction, guidance from seasoned mentors, regular progress checks, and possible ties to academic credits. Compensation includes a monthly stipend of twenty thousand rupees for most postgraduate placements or ten thousand rupees for select undergraduate event-support roles, funded by an annual allocation exceeding five crore rupees from dedicated human resources budgets.
Strict guidelines maintain standards, requiring at least seventy-five per cent attendance, full confidentiality on sensitive matters, ethical conduct, and no improper disclosures, with swift termination for breaches. Finishers earn a certified document outlining their specific contributions and growth, a strong boost for future paths even without guaranteed ongoing roles.
Periodic evaluations keep the policy responsive, allowing tweaks based on input and shifting priorities. This forward-thinking framework equips emerging talent to drive India’s aspirations for cleaner events, better athlete care, and a commanding presence in world sports.
– global bihari bureau
