Motorsports given official NSF status by Sports Ministry, gains legitimacy after four decades

Karun Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan will finally be eligible for the Arjuna Award

Despite having two Formula 1 representatives, the Indian government had failed to register motorsports as an official sport, under the governing realm of the Sports Ministry. However, a landmark ruling, which took place minutes has inculcated the Federation of Motorsports Clubs of India (FMSCI), under the National Sports Federations (NSF’s) list.

The Ministry has included the sport in the latest list revision, which has seen it move up from ‘other’s category. This meant that they were not liable for any financial assistance from the government whatsoever.

However, this does not mean that it is going to get easier for India to bring back the F1 Grand Prix. The race is backed by privately owned Jaypee Group.

Vicky Chandhok, FMSCI President said, “This can only be good for Indian motor sports.Interestingly, the government never de-recognised FMSCI, it just took the body off the recognised NSFs list in 2011 and it has re-recognised us. And the reason there was a lot of criticism surrounding government's apathy towards motor sport was because that was the time when Formula 1 came to India for the first time (in 2011). The Indian motor-sports was in the limelight like never before.”

Former racer and member of the eight member FMSCI Council Akbar Ebrahim said, “Around three weeks ago, we received a letter from the sports ministry stating that it now recognises FMSCI. The federation was always an affiliated member but to get a NSF status, we have to comply fully to the ministry's guidelines including the one on age and tenure limits (of office bearers).”