New Delhi: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has made it mandatory for all National Sports Federations (NSFs) to digitise athlete records via DigiLocker within a year, shifting the country’s sports record-keeping system to a cloud-based platform.
The move aims to address persistent issues around document verification and administrative delays affecting athletes.
DigiLocker Launch Marks Deadline for Federations
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the DigiLocker facility on Thursday in the presence of representatives from 40 NSFs and athletes, including Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu and hockey player Jarmanpreet Singh.
Mandaviya cited a case where an athlete missed a job opportunity due to an unverified certificate, underlining the urgency of reliable digital access. “We cannot allow such lapses in a digital age. DigiLocker will now be mandatory,” he said.
Developed by Digital India Corporation under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the cloud-based platform will be the official repository for sports-related documents and certificates.
Past Records Must Be Digitised by Year-End
The Ministry has instructed federations to digitise all historical data, including district-level certificates, by the end of 2025. Outgoing Sports Secretary and SAI Director General Sujata Chaturvedi acknowledged existing gaps in record maintenance, adding that the two-year-old planning phase highlighted the need for a centralised platform.
Joint Secretary (Sports) Kunal confirmed that from April 2026, physical certificates will no longer be considered valid. “Legal challenges often arise from unverified documents. The transition to digital records is essential for administrative transparency,” he said.
Athletes Call for Paperless Verification
Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu noted that athletes often struggle to access physical certificates while training away from home or competing internationally. “DigiLocker can help streamline these challenges,” she said.
Mandaviya added that medal-winning athletes should not have to submit applications for financial support. “If the country has seen someone win a medal, the process for recognition should be automatic,” he stated.
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