Sports Ministry launches paid internships; 452 slots, ₹5.3 crore outlay
The Sports Ministry has rolled out a Comprehensive Internship Policy offering 452 paid internships a year across SAI, NADA and NDTL, with a Rs 20,000 monthly stipend
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This comes at a time when India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has formally bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics as well. | Image: Wikimedia Commons
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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday launched a Comprehensive Internship Policy to strengthen India’s sports sector by providing 452 paid internships annually in fields supporting the sporting ecosystem.
How many internships are on offer and what is the stipend?
Students selected will receive a stipend of Rs 20,000 a month for six-month-long internships. The policy provides for 452 internships a year.
What is the annual outlay and who will bear the cost?
The total estimated annual budget is Rs 5.3 crore, of which the ministry is estimated to contribute Rs 48 lakh. Most of the expenditure will be borne by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Sports Sciences, SAI, which will collectively hire 372 of the estimated total of 452 interns.
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Which institutions and domains will the internships cover?
Under the policy, internships will be given to college and university students across the ministry and its associated institutions, including SAI, the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).
The internships will be in domains such as sports governance, administration, infrastructure development, legal affairs, information technology, sports science, anti-doping, media and event management, and other athlete support services.
What exposure will interns get under the new policy?
These interns will be mentored by domain experts and get exposure to policy formulation and implementation, while contributing directly to flagship initiatives such as Khelo India, the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG). They will also gain experience at SAI stadia, regional centres (RCs) and national centres of excellence (NCOEs).
Why is the policy being launched now?
This comes at a time when India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and has formally bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics as well.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, in a press statement, said it meets the growing requirement of professionally trained manpower as India aims to expand its sporting infrastructure.
“The transformation of India’s sports ecosystem requires strong institutional backing supported by skilled professionals and young talent. Through this internship programme, we are opening the doors of sports governance and administration to our youth, enabling them to gain hands-on experience and make a long-term impact in nation-building through sports,” Mandaviya added.
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First Published: Dec 24 2025 | 6:27 PM IST