SAI Director Recruitment 2026: Sports Authority of India Deputation Eligibility, Age Limit and Selection
Good news for serving government officers who love sports administration. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has invited applications for 6 posts of Director on deputation basis. The posts are in Pay Level-12 of the 7th CPC, and the deputation period is two years. This is not an open recruitment for freshers. It is meant for officers already working under the Central Government, State Governments or Union Territory Administrations. If you are such an officer, this is a chance to lead national sports schemes. Explore more central and other government jobs too.
Applications must go offline through proper channel and reach SAI Head Office, New Delhi by 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM. In this article we explain who is eligible, the age limit, the selection method, the documents your department must attach, and the exact address. Please read it fully, because the notification lists seven enclosures that must go with the application. We at GovtJobsAlert.in have taken every detail from the official notification dated 5 October 2026.
Key Highlights of SAI Director Recruitment 2026
SAI is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its job is to develop and promote sports in India and to prepare sportspersons for international competitions.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Sports Authority of India (SAI) |
| File Number | 01-04001(03)/4/2026-66 |
| Notice Date | 5 October 2026 |
| Post Name | Director |
| Total Vacancies | 06 (Tentative) |
| Pay Level | Level-12 (7th CPC) |
| Mode of Appointment | Deputation for 02 years |
| Maximum Age | 56 years |
| Mode of Application | Offline, through proper channel |
| Job Location | All-India, at centres where SAI schemes run |
| Last Date | 4 November 2026 (5:00 PM) |
How Many Vacancies are in SAI Director Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Pay Level | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Level-12 (7th CPC) | 06 (Tentative) |
The notification marks the number as tentative, so the final count can change. It does not give any category-wise split. The Director leads and oversees SAI schemes at both the field level and the Head Office, plans and monitors programmes, and acts as the nodal point for coordination with State Governments and other stakeholders.
Posting is on an All-India basis, at any centre where SAI schemes are being implemented. So before you apply, think honestly about whether you can move for two years. Your department will relieve you immediately if you are selected.
Who is Eligible for SAI Director Recruitment 2026?
Service Eligibility
| Route | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | Officers working under the Central Government, State Government or Union Territory Administrations |
| Route 1 | Holding an analogous post as Director (Level-12) or equivalent in the parent cadre or department |
| Route 2 | At least 5 years of regular service in Pay Level-11 (Rs. 67,700 – 2,08,700) |
You need to meet any one of the two routes, not both. The notification does not prescribe a separate educational degree for this post. Eligibility is based on your service record.
Notice the words “or equivalent” in Route 1. If your present post carries a different name, ask your cadre authority in writing whether it is treated as equivalent to Director (Level-12) in your parent cadre. The CV form also asks whether your present post is held on a substantive, officiating or deputation basis, and for its Pay Matrix Level, so keep your service book handy.
Desired Experience
| Option | Experience |
|---|---|
| Option 1 | 03 years in handling administrative matters / Sports Administration |
| Option 2 | 03 years in handling finance and accounts related matters |
This experience is listed as desired, not essential. Officers with an accounts background may also like our commerce and finance government jobs page. The CV form also asks separately about your sports administration and finance experience, so fill those columns carefully.
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| All applicants (deputation) | 56 years as on the opening date of receipt of application |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
The notification says the maximum age for appointment by deputation shall not exceed 56 years. It does not mention any age relaxation for any category, so treat 56 as the limit.
What is the Salary for SAI Director 2026?
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pay Matrix Level | Level-12 (7th CPC) |
| Terms of deputation | DoP&T OM No. 06/08/2009-Estt (Pay-II) dated 17/06/2010, as amended |
| Period | 02 years |
The notification gives the post’s pay as Level-12 and does not print a pay range or allowances for it. Your pay on deputation will follow the standard DoP&T deputation terms quoted above, so check your own pay fixation with your department before you apply.
What is the Selection Process for SAI Director 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Interview | Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria will be called for interview |
| Merit List | Selection on the basis of the merit list prepared by the Selection Committee constituted by the Competent Authority |
Your CV in the Annexure-I format, along with the documents you attach, will also be assessed by the Selection Committee at the time of selection. So a neat, complete CV really matters here.
For interview preparation, read the nature of work again: field-level and Head Office schemes, coordination with State Governments, and inter-departmental decisions. Be ready to give real examples from your own service of planning, monitoring and coordinating a programme. Awards, training and extra qualifications go in the CV’s additional-information and remarks columns.
How to Apply for SAI Director Recruitment 2026 (Offline)?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Download the application format (Annexure-I) from the SAI website or the notification PDF (links in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Fill and sign the CV proforma, and make the application in duplicate |
| 3 | Attach copies of certificates for age, qualifications, experience and research |
| 4 | Get the Annexure-II certificate countersigned with seal by your employer, and the other enclosures listed below |
| 5 | Hand it to your Cadre Controlling Authority so it can send the completed application through proper channel to the address given below |
| 6 | Make sure it reaches SAI by 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM |
Address: O/o the Director (Human Resources Division-II), Room No. 112A, Sports Authority of India, Head Office, Gate No. 10 (East Gate), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.
| Enclosure | Detail |
|---|---|
| i | Annexure-I application, signed by you and countersigned with seal by the Cadre or Appointing Authority |
| ii | Attested copies of ACRs/APARs for the last 5 years, each page attested with seal by an officer of Under Secretary rank or above |
| iii | Integrity Certificate |
| iv | Vigilance Clearance |
| v | No Major or Minor penalty certificate for the last 5 years |
| vi | Certificate that your particulars are verified and correct as per service records |
| vii | Cadre Clearance Certificate |
The Annexure-II employer certificate also states that no vigilance or disciplinary case is pending or contemplated against you, certifies your integrity, and confirms you will be relieved immediately if selected. It allows either a no-penalty statement or a list of penalties imposed in the last five years, as the case may be.
Start today, not in the last week. Vigilance clearance, cadre clearance and five years of attested APARs all depend on other offices in your department, and each one can take time. If the papers are slow, sending an advance copy keeps you in the race, but the full set through proper channel must still reach SAI before the final selection.
What Conditions Can Cost You the SAI Director 2026 Post?
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Advance copy | You may send an advance copy, but your candidature will be considered only if the application through proper channel with the requisite documents is received before the final selection |
| Age | Above 56 years on the opening date of receipt of application means you cannot be appointed |
| Proper channel | The application must come through your Cadre Controlling Authority, not only from you |
| Language | In case of any dispute, the English version of the notification is treated as valid |
What are the Important Dates for SAI Director Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 5 October 2026 |
| Last Date for Receipt of Application | 4 November 2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Interview Date | Not given in the notification |
The notification does not give an interview date. The CV form asks for your email ID and mobile number, so give ones you will keep using until the selection is over.
What is the Application Fee for SAI Director Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All applicants | Not mentioned in the notification |
The notification does not mention any application fee, demand draft or postal order for this deputation post.
SAI Director Recruitment 2026 Essential Links
- Download Official Notification PDF (with Annexure-I and II forms)
- Visit SAI Director Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If you hold a Director-equivalent post, or have five years of regular service in Level-11, and you want to work for Indian sports, talk to your department this week. The proper channel takes time, and your papers must reach SAI by 4 November 2026, 5:00 PM. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for more government job updates.