The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was initially set up as the Department of Sports in 1982 at the time of organization of the IX Asian Games in New Delhi. Its name was changed to the Department of Youth affairs & sports during celebration of the International Youth Year, 1985. It became a Ministry on 27th May, 2000. Subsequently, the Ministry has been bifurcated into the Department of Youth Affairs and Department of Sports under two Secretaries with effect from 2008.

Department of Youth Affairs
The Youth, i.e. those falling within the age group of 15-35 years constitutes nearly 40 percent of the total population of India. This group which is the most vibrant and dynamic segment of the country`s population constitutes potentially its most valuable human resource. To optimally tap their constructive and creative energies, the Department pursues the twin objectives of personality building and nation building, i.e. developing the personality of youth and involving them in various nation-building activities. As most of the issues concerning young people are the functions of other Ministries/Departments, like Education, Employment and Training, Health and Family Welfare, etc. the role of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is to act as a facilitator and catalytic agent.

Department of Sports
Sports promotion is primarily the responsibility of the various National Sports Federations which are autonomous. The role of the Government is to create the infrastructure and promote capacity building for broad-basing sports as well as for achieving excellence in various competitive events at the national and international levels. The Department schemes are geared towards achieving these objectives.

Organisation of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
The Ministry consists of 27 Group A Officers including 2 Secretaries i.e.Secretary(Sports) and Secretary(Youth Affairs), 3 Joint Secretaries, 8 Director/Deputy Secretaries, 1 Programme Adviser, 11 Under Secretaries, 2 Principal Private Secretaries. There are 90 Group `B` posts (31 Gazetted and 59 Non-Gazetted). 74 Group `C` posts and 30 Group `D` posts. National Service Scheme Organisation (NSSO) is the only Subordinate Office of the Ministry

The Ministry has been notified by the Department of Official Language, under Rule 10(4) for the maximum use of Hindi. A number of Sections of the Ministry have been specified under Rule 8(4) for the use of Hindi. Out of five Subordinate/Autonomous offices under the purview of the Ministry four offices have been notified under Rule 10(4).