The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that grant of recognition to sports bodies as National Sports Federations (NSFs) is subject to fulfilment of the conditions prescribed under the guidelines for recognition to NSFs as incorporated in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011. Receiving applications for recognition and taking decisions on them as per guidelines is a continuous process.

With a view to giving due importance to sports having regional spread, the Government has issued guidelines on 26-05-2015 for granting recognition to sports federations of indigenous sports disciplines as Regional Sports Federations (RSFs). Under this scheme, Government has so far granted recognition to Indian Kalarippayattu Federation and Sqay Federation of India as RSFs.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today the Minister said, to promote ancient, traditional and indigenous sports, Government has given recognition to various NSFs such as Indian Amateur Kabaddi Federation, Kho-Kho Federation of India, Tug-of-War Federation of India and Atya Patya Federation of India.