SAI faces 554 coaching vacancies, says Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed the Rajya Sabha that 554 coaching posts remain vacant in the Sports Authority of India. He also highlighted increased anti-doping efforts, proposed stricter laws against doping and detailed financial support provided to the AIFF over the past five years

New Delhi: Over 500 vacant coaching positions in the Sports Authority of India (SAI), increased dope tests at the grassroots level and funds provided to football’s beleaguered national body were among the diverse issues that Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed in his responses to various Rajya Sabha queries here on Thursday.

Despite the launch of a mega recruitment drive by SAI in January to hire more than 350 assistant coaches, 464 positions remain vacant, a number which is over 100 more than last year.

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In all, 554 positions are waiting to be filled, including 90 slots for head coaches at its facilities across the country.

“The qualifications and competencies of coaches are assessed in accordance with the prescribed recruitment and engagement norms,” Mandaviya stated.

The minister also revealed that in the last five years, Rs 8.5 crore has been allocated for training and upskilling programmes for coaches to “enhance their professional capabilities.”

Mandaviya’s statement was in written response to a query from the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Measures to counter doping

In response to a query from BJP MP Kesridevsinh Jhala on the anti-doping measures taken by the government, Mandaviya cited the NADA’s dedicated intelligence and investigation mechanisms to collect, and assess information relating to potential Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs), including trafficking, administration, possession and distribution of prohibited substances and methods.

The minister said that the number of sample collection sessions at grassroots-level events, including school, university, state, and zonal-level events has also gone up.

“A total of 20 sample collection sessions were conducted in 2025, and 55 sample collection sessions have been conducted in 2026 up to July 2026,” he noted.

In addition, the Sample Collection Personnel (SCP) workforce has also been strengthened through “regular recruitment, training, and re-accreditation programmes.”

“A total of 11 training programmes were conducted in 2025, and four training programmes have been conducted in 2026 up to July 2026, to ensure the availability of qualified sample collection personnel across different regions of the country,” he said.

The government is also pushing for criminalisation of doping by proposing jail term and fines for entities indulging in trafficking and supply of prohibited substances in fresh amendments to the National Anti-Doping Act.

The football crisis

A couple of questions were posed on the state of Indian football as well.

They focussed primarily on the central government’s efforts to keep the sport afloat as it goes through a commercial crisis alongside lack of credible international performances.

Mandaviya stated that the government has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 37.98 crore in the last five years. This year a total of Rs 3.91 crore has been provided to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from a total allocation of Rs 8 crore.

“At present 527 athletes of football discipline are being trained at various SAI centres across the country,” read the minister’s statement.

“SAI, an autonomous body under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, regularly engages with the AIFF to review the performance and overall development of the sport and provides its advice accordingly,” it added.