Yoga Federation of India to seek fresh sports ministry recognition after Delhi High Court ruling

The Yoga Federation of India (YFI) will seek fresh recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and restoration of its Indian Olympic Association affiliation after the Delhi High Court ordered a fresh recognition process for the National Sports Federation for Yogasana.

Hyderabad: The Yoga Federation of India (YFI), one of India’s oldest organizations dedicated to the promotion of competitive Yogasana, has announced that it will formally initiate the process of seeking fresh recognition from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and restoring its recognition with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) following the landmark judgment of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court.

In a significant ruling, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court set aside the recognition granted to Yogasana Bharat as the National Sports Federation (NSF) for Yogasana and directed the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to undertake a fresh, transparent and legally compliant recognition process in accordance with the National Sports Development Code.

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The Federation believes that this judgment marks an important milestone for transparency, fairness and good governance in Indian sports administration. It provides an opportunity to ensure that the future governance of Yogasana is founded on the principles of legality, accountability, democratic representation and equal opportunity for every eligible organization.

Established in 1974, the Yoga Federation of India has been at the forefront of promoting competitive Yogasana for more than five decades. The Federation has consistently organized district, state and national championships, developed technical standards, trained officials and athletes, and worked towards securing national and international recognition for Yogasana as a competitive sport.

In compliance with the Hon’ble Court’s directions, the Federation will submit its application for fresh recognition before the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and simultaneously initiate the process of restoring its affiliation with the Indian Olympic Association. The Federation is confident that the fresh recognition process will be conducted strictly in accordance with the National Sports Development Code, ensuring transparency, objectivity and equal treatment for all eligible applicants.

As part of its immediate roadmap, the Federation will seek meetings with Smt. P. T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, to present its long-term vision for the development of Yogasana and discuss the pathway for restoring institutional recognition and strengthening the sport across the country.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Anirudh Gupta, President of the Yoga Federation of India, said, “The Hon’ble Delhi High Court’s judgment presents an important opportunity to strengthen the future of Yogasana through transparency, credibility and good governance. The Yoga Federation of India will fully participate in the fresh recognition process and initiate the restoration of its affiliation with the Indian Olympic Association. Our focus remains firmly on our athletes.”

” Preparations for the 11th Asian Yoga Championship 2027 are already underway, and we are committed to building a strong Indian team while working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Indian Olympic Association and all stakeholders to establish India as the global leader in competitive Yogasana,” he said.

While the recognition process moves forward, the Federation reaffirmed that its foremost responsibility remains the development of athletes and the continued growth of Yogasana at the international level. Preparations have already commenced for the 11th Asian Yoga Championship 2027, to be organized by the Asian Yoga Federation, where national federations from 17 Asian countries are expected to participate. The Yoga Federation of India has already initiated the process of identifying, selecting and preparing a strong Indian contingent for this prestigious continental championship.