Examine the challenges faced by women athletes in India in balancing motherhood and competitive careers. What policy reforms are needed in National Sports Federations' selection criteria?

Q. Examine the challenges faced by women athletes in India in balancing motherhood and competitive careers. What policy reforms are needed in National Sports Federations' selection criteria? (15 marks, 250-350 words)

In May 2026 the Delhi High Court held the Wrestling Federation of India's selection policy exclusionary for lacking discretion to accommodate an iconic athlete returning from a maternity break, allowing Vinesh Phogat into the Asian Games trials [1]. The dispute exposes how India's sports governance still treats motherhood as a career break rather than a pause.

Challenges faced by women athletes - Rigid selection norms: trial-only criteria with no exemption or protected-ranking clause mean a returning mother restarts from zero; WFI's policy had no discretionary window at all [1]. - Litigation as the only remedy: Phogat had to move the High Court, and the Supreme Court finally disposed of the appeal as infructuous without settling the legal principle — leaving no precedent for the next athlete [1]. - Income and career insecurity: the 26-week paid leave under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 covers formal employment, not athletes on federation contracts and performance-linked support [4]. - Ecosystem gaps: absent crèche facilities, post-natal conditioning and coaching continuity at national camps prolong the return-to-competition period. - Weak internal redressal: federation grievance mechanisms have historically been inadequate, a gap the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 now seeks to close [2].

Reforms needed in NSF selection criteria - Statutory maternity clause: published selection policies with frozen/protected ranking and a special trial window for maternity and injury returnees. - Enforce NSGA, 2025: mandatory code of ethics and internal grievance redressal in every national sports body [2]. - Use the National Sports Tribunal, whose Rules were notified in 2026, for speedy selection disputes instead of writ courts [3]. - Safe Sport Policy implementation — crèche support, women in selection committees, and continued scholarship funding through the break [5].

Motherhood and medals are not competing choices; they become so only when selection rules are silent. Institutionalising maternity-sensitive criteria under the 2025 Act would give substance to Article 15(3) and to SDG-5, converting a court-won concession into a settled entitlement for every sportswoman.

(~330 words)

Sources: 1. "WFI moves SC against HC order allowing Vinesh in trials" — The Hindu, 29 May 2026 (print, p.4) (link not verifiable) — Delhi HC's "exclusionary policy" finding, maternity-break exclusion, Supreme Court disposal 2. National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (full text, PRS Legislative Research) — mandatory code of ethics and internal grievance redressal in national sports bodies 3. PIB: Government Notifies National Sports Governance Board Rules and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 — National Sports Tribunal operationalised for sports disputes 4. PIB: Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 — paid maternity leave and crèche facility — 26 weeks paid leave limited to formal employment 5. PIB: Passage of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 — Safe Sport Policy — athlete protection framework and safeguards for women athletes