The Ministry of Education has shared details about the conduct of CBSE sports competitions and the technical assistance involved in organising them. The information was given by Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
CBSE Games Follow Official Guidelines
CBSE Games are governed by the CBSE Games Guidelines, available on the CBSE sports portal, along with annual circulars such as Circular No. Acad 19/2026. These guidelines cover the structure of competitions, eligibility, participation, organising school duties, safety measures, certificates, medals, and sport-specific rules.
If there is any clash or ambiguity, the latest circular will prevail.
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How CBSE Sports Competitions Are Structured
CBSE sports events are conducted at Cluster, Zonal and National levels.
Some higher-participation games are held at the Cluster level, which is broadly state-based. These include:
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Football Boys
- Kabaddi
- Kho-Kho
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
Some lower-participation games are held at the Zonal level. These include:
- Archery
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Chess
- Football Girls
- Handball
- Hockey
- Judo
- Shooting
- Skating
- Swimming
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Yogasana
Certain games such as Aerobics, Gymnastics and Rope Skipping are conducted directly at the National level.
Age Criteria and Participation Rules
The age criteria are calculated as on 31 December of the year of the event. For 2026-27, the age criteria include:
| Category | Born On or After |
| Under-11 | 01 January, 2016 |
| Under-14 | 01 January, 2013 |
| Under-17 | 01 January, 2010 |
| Under-19 | 01 January, 2008 |
Students need UID-based online registration, application to participate and confirmation to the organising school. Winners of Cluster or Zonal competitions qualify for the National level. Foreign schools compete under Foreign Zones and qualify directly for Nationals.
How Organising Schools Are Selected
Organising schools are selected through online applications, recommendations of the Regional Sports Committee, and finalisation by the National Sports Committee.
Schools must have adequate infrastructure, preferably as per Sports Authority of India (SAI) specifications. They also need to upload supporting videos while applying to organise events.
Other Rules for CBSE Games
The CBSE Games Guidelines also cover:
- Eligibility documents
- Disqualification rules
- Safety measures
- Accommodation and meals
- Online certificate generation
- Medals provided by CBSE
- Sport-specific rules
The sport-specific rules are generally aligned with recognised federations or School Games Federation of India (SGFI) rules wherever applicable. Participants usually pay a prescribed daily charge for accommodation and meals.
Sports Grants for Organising Schools
CBSE provides a fixed sports grant to organising schools. The grant amount is:
| Level / Game Type | Grant |
| Cluster/Zonal level | ₹2,00,000 |
| National level | ₹3,00,000 |
| Athletics and Swimming: Cluster/Zonal | ₹4,00,000 |
| Athletics and Swimming: National | ₹5,00,000 |
The total grant allotted to schools was:
- ₹6.32 crore in 2023-24
- ₹12.13 crore in 2024-25
- ₹9 crore in 2025-26
Eligibility and Participation
Students must register online using their UID, apply to participate, and confirm their participation with the organising school.
- Cluster/Zonal winners qualify for the National level.
- Foreign schools compete in the Foreign Zone(s) and qualify directly for Nationals.
Use of Grant and Audit Process
The grant can be used only for approved purposes such as payment to referees, technical officials, and observers, ground maintenance, sports equipment, tentage, videography, and miscellaneous approved expenses.
Organising schools must submit expenditure details in the prescribed proforma along with a Utilisation Certificate. This certificate confirms that the grant has been used fully for the sanctioned purpose.
The proforma includes a detailed Statement of Income and Expenditure covering accommodation, equipment, first aid, tentage, referees or officials, ceremonies, photography, TA/DA to observer, and transport.
The organising school must get the proforma and accounts audited by a Chartered Accountant before uploading them on the CBSE Integrated Payment System (IPS) portal. CBSE also gets these proformas and accounts audited by internal and external audit teams.
Technical Officials for Fair Play
As per CBSE Games Guidelines, the organising school is responsible for hiring technically qualified and experienced umpires, referees and game officials from the concerned District or State Sports Associations or Federations.
This is done to ensure fair conduct and adherence to rules during the competitions.
Protest and Grievance Process
If there is a protest, it must be submitted in writing to the Organising Secretary within 30 minutes of the result declaration. A fee of ₹1,000 must be paid.
The protest is considered by the Jury of Appeal, and the concerned parties are heard. If the protest is accepted, the fee is refunded. If not, the fee is forfeited.
The decision of the Jury is final and binding. The matter is also reported with full facts to the CBSE Sports Cell.
Where to Check Rules and Queries
All stakeholders have been directed to follow the Rules of Sports and Games and the CBSE Games Guidelines available on the CBSE sports portal.
For queries, schools and stakeholders may contact the CBSE Sports Cell through the contact details given in the relevant circulars.
Important Links
| CBSE Announces National Yoga Olympiad 2026 for School Students | CBSE Shares National Cyber Awareness Grand Challenge 2026 Details |
Final Takeaway
The Ministry’s reply explains how CBSE sports competitions are organised, funded and monitored. If you are participating through your school, you should check the latest CBSE Games Guidelines, confirm your eligibility and follow only the official CBSE sports portal and circulars for updates.
Source
Ministry of Education, PIB Release, 12 August 2026: Click here to read.
Kindly note that any and all information is subject to change as per CBSE, the Ministry of Education, and the Government of India.
