Sports Minister Confirms Over 1,000 Vacancies in SAI, Recruitment Underway

The Indian government has acknowledged that more than 1,000 positions remain unfilled within the Sports Authority of India (SAI). This revelation came from Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, during a session in the Lok Sabha on Monday. His remarks followed a report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on sports that highlighted systemic issues within the organization, describing it as “critically” underfunded and undermanned.

In response to a question posed by Adoor Prakash, a member of Parliament from Kerala’s Attingal constituency, Mandaviya confirmed that 1,191 posts are currently vacant. He reassured the House that the recruitment process for several of these roles has already commenced. The Parliamentary Standing Committee, led by Digvijaya Singh, a Congress Member of Parliament, noted in its August report that approximately 45 percent of sanctioned posts at SAI are unoccupied.

The report raised alarms about the reliance on temporary contracts to fill these gaps, suggesting that such arrangements are merely ad hoc solutions. The committee, which includes notable figures such as cricketer Harbhajan Singh and BJP MPs like Sambit Patra and Bansuri Swaraj, expressed serious concerns regarding both the staffing shortages and the insufficient financial support for SAI.

During a meeting held on June 6, 2023, the committee reviewed inputs from the Sports Secretary and representatives from SAI. They acknowledged the initiation of a recruitment drive but urged the Sports Ministry to expedite the process and provide an Action Taken Report (ATR) within six months.

In the current fiscal year, the Indian government allocated a total of ₹3,794 crore to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Out of this amount, ₹830 crore has been specifically designated for SAI. Mandaviya explained that budget allocations are based on proposals submitted by SAI for the financial year, and any additional funding requirements that emerge throughout the year are evaluated during the Revised Estimates (RE) stage. He assured that suitable requests would be considered through supplementary grants when necessary.

This recruitment initiative and financial reassessment come at a critical time for Indian sports, as the government responds to the pressing needs highlighted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee, aiming to strengthen the operational capacity of SAI.