National Sports Federations in India are registered as voluntary bodies under the Societies Registration Act, the Trusts Act or the Companies Act and function according to their own constitutions. They also have their own systems to address complaints and grievances raised by sportspersons. In August 2010, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports directed all federations to comply with the Supreme Court’s Vishakha guidelines on preventing sexual harassment.
Following the introduction of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in 2013, the law became applicable to all National Sports Federations. Federations recognised by the ministry subsequently set up Internal Complaints Committees to handle such cases. The ministry has continued to issue periodic instructions on preventing sexual harassment in sports but does not maintain consolidated data on complaints filed by athletes with individual sports bodies.
The ministry itself, along with organisations functioning under it, has established Internal Complaints Committees to ensure that employees, trainees and athletes have access to mechanisms to address sexual harassment complaints. According to official records, no complaints against ministry officials have been filed in the last ten years or the current year.
A report tabled in Parliament by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in March 2026 provides details related to the Sports Authority of India. Since 2016, eight complaints have been lodged against administrative staff and twenty-five against coaches. Of the eight administrative cases, two are still pending. One case resulted in a penalty involving the permanent withholding of full gratuity under the Central Civil Services Pension Rules, while the remaining cases were closed without penalty. No appeals were filed in these matters.
In the case of coaches, disciplinary action based on inquiry findings included six suspensions, six minor penalties and two terminations. Eight appeals were filed by either complainants or accused coaches against the recommendations or decisions of the inquiry committees.
The government has also implemented the SHe‑Box portal, developed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, within the Sports Authority of India. The online platform allows any aggrieved person to register a complaint related to sexual harassment.
