SAI Internship Programme The Internship Programme under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its autonomous bodies - Sports Authority of India (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) - is designed to provide structured, meaningful, and policy-aligned exposure to students, researchers, and young professionals across the domains of sports administration, governance, infrastructure development, legal affairs, information technology, anti-doping science, and allied fields. This programme serves as a capacity-building initiative aimed at infusing young talent into the broader ecosystem of Indian sports governance and integrity. It provides interns with hands-on experience in athlete-centric schemes and programmes such as Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), Fit India Movement, Sports Infrastructure Development, Media & Event Management, as well as specialized exposure to anti-doping education, policy implementation, dope testing, and laboratory-based analytical research. By aligning with the mandates of MYAS, SAI, NADA, and NDTL, the internship programme not only enhances institutional capacity but also contributes to clean sports, transparent governance, scientific advancement, and youth engagement in shaping India’s sporting future. Objectives of Internship To provide qualitative exposure to government functioning and sports governance through the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) and its autonomous bodies. To enable hands-on participation in flagship schemes and programmes such as Khelo India, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), SAI Stadia, Regional Centres (RCs), and National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs). To encourage youth engagement, digital fluency, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the administration and promotion of sports, fitness, and athlete support systems. To build a pipeline of trained professionals capable of contributing effectively to India’s sporting ecosystem in areas such as policy, infrastructure, media, IT, legal frameworks, sports science and sports management. To relate different sports science subjects and become familiar with the laboratory tests and equipment and also to provide hands-on training in research project development, analysis and interpretation of data in sports science. To strengthen the fight against doping in sport by engaging interns in awareness programmes, legal compliance, case management, and policy support under the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). To provide exposure to advanced scientific and technical processes in sports integrity through internships at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), including hands-on experience in sample analysis, research, and laboratory-based anti-doping activities. To contribute towards clean sport, transparent governance, and scientific advancement in alignment with international standards and India’s commitments to fair play and athlete welfare. Annual Estimated Number of Interns and Stipend Organisation Estimated No. of Interns per Annum MYAS 40 SAI 160 Sports Science SAI 212 NADA 20 NDTL 20 Total 452 Stipend for PG level students shall be Rs. 20,000/- per month. Stipend for UG level students (only eligible for SAI events) shall be Rs. 10,000/- per month. Expenditure Head: For disbursement of stipends to all interns, funds shall be released under the HRDS Scheme, in accordance with the CNA/TSA guidelines. SAI shall be the designated agency for disbursing stipends to both SAI interns and MYAS interns. Further, NDTL and NADA shall release stipends to their respective interns. Tentative Annual Schedule: Internship Duration 6 Months Eligibility Criteria Nationality Requirement The internship shall be open to Indian Nationals only. Streams & Eligible Degrees Internship opportunities will be available in diverse domains across MYAS. Eligibility will depend on the role and the organizational requirement. Additional Conditions Statement of Purpose: All applicants must submit a statement of purpose highlighting motivation, goals, and expected outcomes. No Objection Certificate (NOC): Applicants enrolled in academic institutions must provide a duly signed NOC confirming good conduct and absence of active backlogs. One-time Internship per Academic Level: Candidates may undertake internship only once at each academic level (UG/PG/PhD). Repeat applications within the same academic level will be rejected. Incomplete Applications: Any incomplete or unsigned applications shall be rejected. Age Requirement The minimum age for internship is 20 years, and the preferred upper age limit is 25 years (as per MYAS norms). However, upper age relaxation may be considered for postgraduate, doctoral, or research scholars, particularly in specialized domains such as legal, IT, etc. MYAS shall have the discretion to grant relaxation on a case-tocase basis, depending on the nature of the internship, candidate profile, or specific project requirements. Duration & Internship Structure Internships will typically be offered for a duration of 6 months. Interns will be inducted in two centralized batches per year - December and June. Online Application Visit https://saijobs.sportsauthorityofindia.gov.in/SAIInternishipFeb2025 for online application. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What is the purpose of the SAI Internship Programme? The SAI Internship Programme provides structured practical exposure to young individuals in sports management, sports infrastructure development, sports science, etc 2. In which domains internship will be provided? Interns will be engaged in the domains of General Sports Management, Legal, Sports Infrastructure, Event & Media, IT & Data Systems, Sports Science. 3. Who is eligible to apply? Postgraduate students (Master’s/PG Diploma) in relevant disciplines aligned to the internship domain. Research scholars (including Ph.D. scholars) in relevant fields aligned to the internship domain. Undergraduate students are eligible only for Event & Media internships. 4. Can candidates currently pursuing a course apply for the internship? Yes, Students who have appeared in the final examination or have recently completed Graduation/Post-Graduation may be considered for internship, provided the gap between the declaration of the final result and the start date of the internship does not exceed six months. 5. What documents are required while applying for the internship? Applicants are required to submit: Government ID proof (Aadhar card, PAN Card, Passport etc) Academic certificates and marksheets supporting eligibility Statement of Purpose indicating motivation and intended learning outcomes No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the institution (for currently enrolled candidates) Undertaking for confidentiality and conduct 6. What are the age criteria for applying? Applicants must be at least 20 years old, as on the last date of submission of the application with a preferred upper age limit of 25 years. Age relaxation may be granted for specialised or research-based roles on a case-to-case basis. 7. How can candidates apply for the SAI Internship Programme? Applications must be submitted online through the official Sports Authority of India (SAI) website within the notified application window. No offline applications will be accepted. The candidate may apply through www.sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in 8. How will selected candidates be informed? All official communication, including shortlisting and selection results, will be communicated through the registered email ID/Whatsapp provided in the application portal. 9. Can applicants choose their preferred location? Applicants may apply for their preferred Regional Centre/Unit. However, the final posting will be subject to availability, merit, and the administrative discretion of SAI. 10. What is the duration of the internship? The standard duration is six months, while Event & Media internships will be offered for three months. 11. Where will interns be posted? Interns can be placed across SAI Head Office, Stadia, Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and Sports Science units across India. 12. What is the selection process for SAI internships? Applications are scrutinised for eligibility and merit, including academic performance and Statement of Purpose, and are evaluated by a committee comprising senior officials and domain experts. 13. Is any stipend provided to SAI interns? Yes: ₹20,000 per month for postgraduate interns. ₹10,000 per month for undergraduate interns engaged in event-based roles only. 14. Is any additional allowance provided to interns? Interns engaged in event-based projects may receive enhanced allowances for outstation assignments, subject to approval of the Competent Authority 15. Will interns be supervised during their tenure? Each intern is assigned a Mentor Officer to guide work, monitor progress, and evaluate performance. 16. Are interns required to submit reports? Yes. Interns must submit weekly progress reports and a final report/presentation at the end of the internship. 17. What are the attendance and leave requirements? Interns must maintain a minimum of 75% attendance, and leave beyond five consecutive days requires prior approval. 18. What code of conduct must interns follow? Interns must adhere to organisational discipline, maintain confidentiality, avoid unauthorised disclosures or media interaction, and comply with all applicable rules and legal provisions. 19. Can the internship be terminated early? Yes. SAI may terminate the internship for misconduct, breach of confidentiality, unsatisfactory performance, or prolonged unauthorised absence. 20. Does completion of the internship guarantee employment in SAI? No. The internship is purely a learning engagement and does not create an employer–employee relationship or assure future employment. 21. Will interns receive certification after completion? A Certificate of Completion is issued to interns who successfully meet attendance, reporting, and performance requirements. For further details, visit SAI Internship Programme Source: SAI Internship Programme