Sports Ministry keen on getting back Formula One in 2027, plans to overhaul TOPS scheme

The Indian government is keen on getting Formula One back in the country at the earliest possible with sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirming that talks were on with the various stakeholders about the same.

Mr. Mandaviya claimed that India’s return to the grid could be as early as next year although it looks unlikely given the logistics, scheduling and formalities involved.

“Three companies have expressed interest in operating the Buddha International Circuit [Noida] and organising the race. There are things to be worked out including infrastructure and taxation issues. We have the tracks across India and hope to work out the details in the next 3-6 months,” the Minister said during an interaction here on Monday.

However given that the present Formula One calendar already has 19 confirmed races and 23 on the wait list with at least three expected to be added, 2027 seems improbable although Formula One owners agree India is a country of interest.

The Ministry is also planning a re-look at the country’s sports talent identification process to make it more streamlined and aligned with global medal aspirations.

The current Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) base, he revealed, stood at 399 — 51 in core and 166 in development groups besides 62 in para, 57 for Asian Games and 63 in hockey — with plans to increase it almost ten-fold to 3000 by 2032.

“We need to focus more on medal-heavy disciplines such as aquatics, cycling, and gymnastics. They have 165, 66 and 57 medals respectively in Olympics and we have a grand total of one athlete in swimming in TOPS. We need to strengthen the pool, integrate identified talent from Khelo India Tribal Games and ASMITA into the TOPS development group with a clear pathway for their eventual inclusion in the core group,” he said.

Encourage traditional sports

India is also planning to encourage traditional sports with the ministry, in collaboration with the CGF, looking at getting at least two of the four shortlisted events — kabaddi, kho-kho, mallakhamb and yogasana — included in the 2030 edition.

Asked about the delay in announcing the national sport awards, ministry sources said the recommendations of the awards committee were being re-evaluated to ensure only the truly deserving ones were nominated.

“We cannot have 40-50 medals handed out randomly every year, the reward has to be commensurate with achievements,” sources said.