Overview
A society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 on 24 February 2009 and headed by the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, set up to protect, preserve, promote and develop playing fields and open spaces.
Key details
- Amount / benefit value
- NPFAI is a society, not a grant scheme — it protects, preserves and develops playing fields and open spaces. Under the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme, NPFAI receives ₹2.5 crore a year at national level, and each State that sets up a state-level playing-field association on NPFAI lines gets ₹50 lakh a year (₹25 lakh for a UT).
- Official guidelines PDF
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Note: Headed by the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports as Chairperson, with a Governing Body of 24 members including ministry officers, State representatives and nominated eminent persons and sportspersons. Office at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
Eligibility
- ▸ Institutional — State and district playing-field associations, local authorities, sports bodies and NPFAI-assisted projects
- ▸ Projects assisted by NPFAI must register with NPFAI and sign an MoU committing the facility to community use
Benefits
- ✓ Advocacy and a national policy framework for playing fields, playgrounds, play pitches, parks and open spaces
- ✓ Online registration of play spaces and open spaces
- ✓ Financial and technical assistance for protecting and developing play spaces
- ✓ Under the Urban Sports Infrastructure Scheme: ₹2.5 crore a year to NPFAI, ₹50 lakh a year to each State and ₹25 lakh a year to each UT that runs a state-level playing-field association on NPFAI lines
Application process
Approach the National Playing Fields Association of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, through the State sports department or a State-level playing-field association; no individual application route is notified.
Apply via: Approach the National Playing Fields Association of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, through the State sports department or a State-level playing-field association; no individual application route is notified.
Frequently asked questions
What does NPFAI actually do?＋
It works to protect and create play spaces — evolving a national policy on playing fields, seeking legislative backing for public access, registering play spaces online, setting norms for planning authorities, and promoting compensatory playing-field development when existing public play space is lost to a project.
Can an individual apply to NPFAI for funds?＋
No public individual application route is notified. NPFAI works with State and district associations, sports bodies and local authorities; projects it assists must register with NPFAI and sign an MoU committing the facility to community use.