Sports Authority of India Recruitment 2026 [323 Posts]

Published on: March 27, 2026

Sports Authority of India Recruitment 2026

The Sports Authority of India has released a major recruitment notification for 323 Assistant Coach posts under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. This is a golden opportunity for sportspersons and coaching professionals to secure a Group ‘B’ government job with excellent salary and career growth.

If you have a background in sports coaching or international-level participation, this recruitment can be your gateway to a prestigious career in India’s sports ecosystem.

Overview of SAI Recruitment 2026

Particulars	Details
Organization	Sports Authority of India (SAI)
Post Name	Assistant Coach
Total Posts	323
Job Type	Central Government Job
Pay Scale	₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400 (Level 6)
Application Mode	Online
Job Location	Across India
Official Website	sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in

About Sports Authority of India (SAI)

The Sports Authority of India is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Its main goal is to develop sports talent and prepare athletes for international competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games, and World Championships.

SAI operates world-class training centres with top-level infrastructure and expert coaches across India.

Vacancy Details (Sports-wise)

A total of 323 vacancies are distributed across multiple sports disciplines:

Swimming – 26
Athletics – 28
Cycling – 12
Gymnastics – 12
Wrestling – 22
Canoeing – 7
Judo – 6
Rowing – 11
Shooting – 28
Boxing – 19
Fencing – 11
Weightlifting – 10
Taekwondo – 11
Archery – 12
Table Tennis – 14
Badminton – 16
Tennis – 8
Basketball – 12
Volleyball – 10
Hockey – 13
Football – 12
Handball – 6
Kabaddi – 6
Kho-Kho – 2
Sepak Takraw – 3
Wushu – 6

Note: 33% reservation is applicable for women candidates.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet any one of the following criteria:

Age Limit

Maximum Age: 30 years

Age Relaxation:

SC/ST: 5 years
OBC: 3 years
Ex-Servicemen: As per Govt rules
SAI Contract Employees: Relaxation equal to service period
Govt Employees: Up to 5–10 years (as applicable)

Application Fee

Category	Fee
UR / OBC / EWS	₹2500
SC / ST / Ex-Servicemen	₹2000
Women Candidates	₹2000

Selection Process

The selection will be done in two stages:

1. Computer Based Test (CBT)

Duration: 2 hours
Questions: 100 MCQs
Negative Marking: Yes (0.25 marks deducted)

Subjects:

Sports Knowledge – 65 marks
Sports Science – 25 marks
General Awareness, Reasoning & Aptitude – 10 marks

2. Coaching Ability Test (CAT)

Weightage: 60% (most important stage)
Focus: Practical coaching skills, athlete handling, and training ability

Final merit will be prepared based on CBT (40%) + CAT (60%)

Salary & Benefits

Pay Scale: ₹35,400 – ₹1,12,400
Allowances:
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Transport Allowance
- Medical Benefits
Additional Perks:
- Sports kit
- Promotion up to High Performance Coach

How to Apply

Follow these steps:

Visit the official SAI website
Click on “Apply Online”
Register using email ID
Fill application form carefully
Upload documents:
- Age proof
- ID proof
- Qualification certificates
- Category certificate (if applicable)
Pay application fee
Submit and download registration slip

Important Dates

Online Application Start Date	1 February 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	15 February 2026
Date of Reopening of online application	23 March 2026 (10:00 AM)
Closing date for submission of online application	21 April 2026 (05:00 PM)

Important Instructions

Only Indian citizens can apply
Exam centres include cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal, Bengaluru etc.
Posting can be anywhere in India
No hard copy submission required
NOC required for Govt employees