The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has formally launched its 2026 electoral process under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, with the Athletes' Commission election scheduled for 3 November and the Executive Council polls set for 5 December. The move signals a structured push toward institutional reform as India's Olympic movement prepares for a pivotal period ahead of the country's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Returning Officer Appointment

The IOA has appointed Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, former Election Commissioner of Delhi and Chandigarh, as the Electoral Officer and Returning Officer for the entire electoral cycle. Srivastava will oversee elections for the Athletes' Commission, the roster of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs), and the Executive Council. His responsibilities include preparation of electoral rolls, scrutiny of nominations, conduct of polling, counting of votes, declaration of results, and all related official notifications.

Key Dates and Election Timeline

The first stage began on 18 September with the publication of the application form for inclusion in the SOM roster. Eligible applicants have been asked to submit their forms along with supporting documents by 18 October.

For the Athletes' Commission election covering the 2026–2030 term, eligible National Sports Federations have been asked to nominate two athlete representatives each through their duly constituted Athletes' Commissions by 2 pm on 11 October. Polling, counting, and declaration of results for this election are scheduled for 3 November.

The IOA Executive Council election follows on 5 December, timed to precede the current council's term expiry on 10 December.

Athletes' Commission Composition

The Athletes' Commission will comprise 10 elected members — five men and five women. The rules provide for representation of athletes from Olympic-category sports and those who have demonstrated success at major international competitions, ensuring the body reflects competitive excellence rather than administrative lineage.

What IOA President P.T. Usha Said

IOA president P.T. Usha described the elections as a critical step in reforming Indian sport's governance architecture. 'The 2026 elections mark an important milestone in strengthening good governance, transparency and accountability within the Indian Olympic Movement. Our objective is to build strong, credible and athlete-centric institutions, fully aligned with the Olympic Charter and the national sports governance framework. The appointment of an experienced former election commissioner as electoral officer/returning officer underlines our commitment to an independent, transparent and credible electoral process,' she said.

Usha also linked the reforms directly to India's 2036 Olympic Games hosting bid: 'As India continues its continuous dialogue with the IOC as one of seven nations for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in Ahmedabad, strong governance and an athlete-centric approach will remain fundamental to our Olympic journey.'

India's 2036 Olympic Bid Context

India is among seven interested parties in the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Continuous Dialogue process for the 2036 Games, alongside Germany, Hungary, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, and Turkiye. Ahmedabad has been identified as India's proposed host city. Credible internal governance is widely regarded as a prerequisite for a successful Olympic bid — making the IOA's electoral reforms not merely procedural but strategically significant. The IOA has faced scrutiny from international bodies in the past over governance concerns, making a clean, independently supervised electoral process all the more consequential at this juncture.