Fri Mar 07 00:14:00 UTC 2025: ## New Guidelines Aim for Transparency in Indian Athlete Selection
**New Delhi, March 7, 2025** – The Union Sports Ministry has issued new guidelines to National Sports Federations (NSFs) to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection of Indian athletes for international competitions. While selection remains the NSFs’ responsibility, the ministry mandates a transparent process with pre-published selection criteria accessible on each NSF’s website. Any amendments to these criteria must be made three months in advance.
The guidelines require NSFs to video record selection processes and maintain detailed minutes. A dispute resolution mechanism to address athlete grievances within a week is also mandatory. Crucially, government observers will only monitor the process and report back, holding no voting power in the selection committee.
The ministry retains the right to veto athlete selections deemed unfair or opaque, potentially barring government funding for participation. NSFs must finalize selections 45 days before departure to allow ample time for logistics like visa applications and travel arrangements. These new measures aim to improve the objectivity and fairness of the athlete selection process.
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