Sports Ministry defers National Sports Federation elections until December 2026

All India Football Federation elections, originally scheduled for September 2026, will now be held in 2027

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has decided to defer elections of all National Sports Federations (NSFs) till December 31, 2026, to ensure a smooth transition to the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The decision was announced in a letter sent to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and all recognised NSFs in which the the ministry claimed that the move is a temporary, one-time arrangement to give sports federations enough time to adjust to the new law.

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 received the assent of the Hon’ble President of India on August 18, 2025.

In its letter, the ministry explained that the Act “introduces a comprehensive framework for transparent, accountable and athlete-centric governance of National Sports Federations” and will require “significant statutory, structural and procedural changes” to be carried out by all NSFs.

The ministry also noted that meeting the new requirements will take time. “Compliance requirements under the NSG Act, 2025 necessitate adequate preparation time for NSFs to establish robust electoral structure and procedures, and alignment of the Constitution / Bye-laws of NSFs with the NSG Act,” they said in the letter.

After reviewing the situation, MYAS observed that implementation of the required changes may not be “feasible within the limited time available before the elections scheduled in the coming months.”

To avoid rushed or incomplete compliance, the ministry decided that elections due to be held soon, except those mandated by court orders or existing laws, “may be deferred up to 31 December 2026.”

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During this period, the existing executive committees of the federations will continue in office. The ministry also stressed that this extension is “solely for the purpose of enabling a transition to the new electoral framework established under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.”

However, one of the immediate effects of this decision will be seen in football administration. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) elections, which were originally due in September 2026 at the end of the current committee’s four-year term, will now take place in 2027, subject to general body approval.

The present executive committee, led by president Kalyan Chaubey, will continue in office during the extended period.

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