New Delhi: In a major step toward digitizing athlete services and strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on Wednesday launched the issuance of sports certificates through DigiLocker. The launch event was held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in the national capital, where the Minister also inaugurated the National Centre for Sports Science and Research (NCSSR).
Highlighting the Modi Government’s athlete-first approach, Dr. Mandaviya said that the introduction of DigiLocker-based sports certification will streamline processes and remove administrative hurdles for sportspersons. “Earlier, athletes had to apply manually for government rewards even after winning medals on the international stage. We are ending that practice,” he said. “When the whole world has witnessed the athlete’s victory, why should they still need to apply?”
He announced that these digital certificates will soon be integrated with the National Sports Repository System (NSRS), enabling the automatic transfer of government cash rewards directly into athletes’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. This move aims to ensure transparency, efficiency, and timeliness in recognizing athletic achievements.
The Minister also outlined the government’s vision for Indian sports, citing recent initiatives such as the Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2024, the Draft National Sports Policy 2024, and the upcoming National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS) 2025. “All these efforts reflect our commitment to transparency, fairness, and good governance in Indian sports,” he said.
In his address, Dr. Mandaviya reiterated India’s aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games, noting that a comprehensive roadmap is being implemented to support these ambitions. He urged National Sports Federations (NSFs) to focus on good governance and athlete welfare, and announced that office space at Indira Gandhi Stadium will be made available to interested NSFs to help strengthen their administrative capabilities.
To further bolster the sports infrastructure, the Minister revealed plans for Olympic training centres for high-priority sports, to be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. He also announced the soon-to-be-launched ‘One Sport–One Corporate’ policy, designed to facilitate corporate sponsorships and encourage private-sector investment in sports.
The inauguration of the NCSSR was described by Dr. Mandaviya as a pivotal moment for Indian sports science. The centre will act as a hub for advanced research, innovation, and education, all geared toward enhancing the performance of elite athletes and building a robust support system as part of India’s long-term vision under Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Concluding his remarks, the Union Minister said, “Let us all work together to build a strong sports culture for a new India.”
Olympic silver medallist and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna awardee Mirabai Chanu, who was present at the event, lauded the initiative. “This is a really good scheme for players. The issuance of sports certificates by DigiLocker will take a lot of stress away from all sportspersons like me. Often we don’t carry all our documents while traveling, and these are needed for government jobs, visa applications, etc. I want to thank our Sports Minister on behalf of all athletes,” she said.
