The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced on Saturday, 10 October 2026, that it will elect its new Executive Council on 5 December, The Hindu reported.
That is five days before the current committee’s term ends. IOA president P. T. Usha called it a milestone for good governance.
Quick Facts
| Election date | 5 December 2026 |
| Returning officer | Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, IAS (Retd.) |
| Governing law | National Sports Governance Act, 2025 |
| Bodies to be elected | Executive Council; Athletes’ Commission; Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit |
The Returning Officer
Srivastava is a former election commissioner of Delhi and Chandigarh. He will conduct and supervise all three elections.
The Rules
The IOA said the process will follow the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the rules made under it in 2026, the amended IOA constitution and the association’s election bye-laws.
Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit
This category gives distinguished former athletes a role in the association.
- The process began on 18 September with the publication of application forms
- Eligible applicants can apply until 18 October
- A roster will then be drawn up under the eligibility criteria in the new governance framework
The Athletes’ Commission
The returning officer has also notified elections to the IOA Athletes’ Commission for the 2026–2030 term.
Why It Matters
The elections are being held under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, which sets rules for how India’s national sports bodies are run.
Source: The Hindu (10 October 2026).
Featured image: P. T. Usha, now president of the Indian Olympic Association, at a meeting in 2017 (file photo). Photo by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
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