THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH Affairs and Sports has approved a 191-member Indian contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow but has decided not to bear the expenses of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Executive Committee members included in the delegation. The move reinforces the government’s athlete-first funding policy and its emphasis on limiting public expenditure to athletes and essential support staff.
The cleared contingent comprises athletes, coaches, medical personnel and other officials required for India’s participation at the Games. However, while the ministry has approved the participation of certain IOA Executive Committee members, it has stipulated that their travel and associated costs will not be funded by the government and must instead be borne by the IOA or other non-government sources.
The decision is in line with the ministry’s recent stance on the composition of Indian contingents for major multi-sport events. Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has repeatedly stressed that the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games are “not exposure tours” and that only athletes capable of delivering competitive performances, along with essential support personnel, should be included in government-funded delegations. He has also directed national sports federations to avoid sending oversized contingents or unnecessary officials.
The ministry’s approach follows a series of high-level review meetings to assess India’s preparations for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the IOA and various stakeholders were instructed to ensure athlete-centric planning and seamless coordination. The government has maintained that financial resources should primarily be directed towards athlete preparation, coaching, sports science and logistical support rather than administrative representation.
The issue of funding additional officials has been a recurring point of discussion before previous Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In earlier editions, the Sports Ministry similarly declined to finance the travel of officials and managers considered beyond the approved quota, requiring the IOA or respective national sports federations to bear those costs.
