Comprehensive Internship Policy to Build Next Generation of Sports Professionals

Syllabus: GS2/Government Policy & Intervention

Context

• Recently, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched a Comprehensive Internship Policy designed to provide structured, hands-on experience to aspiring sports professionals, aligning with the broader goals of the National Sports Policy and the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.

Policy Overview

• Scope and Scale of the Internship Programme: 452 internships will be offered annually across Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and its autonomous bodies, including:
  • Sports Authority of India (SAI)
  • National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)
  • National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
• Multi-Functional Domain: The internships will cover more than 20 functional domains, such as sports management, sports science, event operations, communications, IT, legal affairs, and international sports governance.
• Target Participants: The internship shall be open to Indian Nationals only.
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate students from recognized universities and sports institutes.
  • The minimum age for internship is 20 years, and the preferred upper age limit is 25 years. However, upper age relaxation may be considered for postgraduate, doctoral, or research scholars.
  • Fields include sports management, coaching, physiotherapy, sports analytics, nutrition, and event management.
• Internship Duration & Structure: Typically ranges from 6 weeks to 6 months.
  • Interns are assigned to SAI regional centers, National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), and Khelo India schemes.
• Stipend & Certification: Interns receive a stipend (varies by duration and posting).
  • Successful completion leads to a certificate jointly issued by SAI and MYAS, recognized for future government sports sector employment.
• Focus Areas (Science, Anti-Doping, and Innovation): The initiative promotes digital fluency, innovation, and entrepreneurship within the sports sector.
  • Interns at NADA will engage in anti-doping awareness, legal compliance, and case management.
  • Interns at NDTL will gain exposure to laboratory testing, sample analysis, and research on performance integrity.
• Recruitment and Selection: The internship will follow a biannual recruitment cycle in January and July, conducted through a centralised online portal to ensure transparency and merit-based selection.
• Mentorship & Training: Interns are mentored by sports scientists, coaches, and administrators.
  • Focus areas include performance analytics, event logistics, athlete support services, and sports marketing.
• Structured Learning and Professional Exposure: Interns will benefit from:
  • Structured onboarding and mentorship by domain experts;
  • Exposure to policy formulation and implementation;
  • Hands-on experience with flagship programmes like Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and Target Asian Games Group (TAGG).

Expected Outcomes

• Development of a skilled sports workforce.
• Strengthening of India’s sports ecosystem through trained human capital.
  • Target to benefit over 4 crore youth in the next five years through placements in 500+ organizations.
• Enhancement of sports science and analytics infrastructure in India.
• Better alignment between academic curricula and practical sports administration. 

 Alignment with National Sports Vision

• The internship policy aligns closely with the National Sports Policy and Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, focusing on:
  • Youth empowerment and capacity building
  • Professionalisation of sports administration
  • Promotion of clean, transparent, and science-backed sporting practices;
• It supports India’s ambition of creating a future-ready sports ecosystem capable of sustaining elite performance and hosting major international sporting events.

Source: News On AIR