The Union sports ministry has decided to consider granting recognition to sports bodies dealing with indigenous disciplines as Regional Sports Federations (RSFs).
In a release, the ministry said in order to promote such disciplines and give them due acknowledgement it would take up the cases of such sports bodies and consider them for recognition with the approval of the competent authority.
However, the ministry said these bodies must fulfil some conditions. Accordingly, the sports disciplines (a) must be popular in a region/ state and played in one or more states, (b) should have been played in the region for at least last 10 years, (c) RSFs seeking recognition should have conducted championships at senior, junior and sub-junior levels and (d) in case there is an international federation for a discipline, the National body should have the recognition of the global outfit (in case there are several bodies at the international level for one sport and if more than one RSF apply for recognition, then the Government shall take a decision in the matter).
The ministry clarified that a particular condition, which required a National Sports Federation to have affiliated units in two-third of the state/ union territories, will not be applicable for the grant of recognition to RSFs.
