Andhra Pradesh Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism and Culture (Sports), Ajay Jain on Monday defended the DSC sports quota recruitment process, asserting that the appointments were carried out in a completely transparent manner in accordance with government norms and without any political interference.

At a press conference at the State Secretariat along with SAP Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Bharani, Mr. Jain said the entire recruitment process was conducted through a technology-driven online system, eliminating the scope for middlemen, external influence or irregularities. He clarified that the meeting was convened in response to reports and allegations circulating in certain media platforms and social media regarding the recruitment process.

He said the State government increased reservation for sportspersons in government jobs from 2% to 3% under the new Sports Policy-2024, implemented through G.O. Ms. No.18 in December 2024. Of the 16,347 DSC posts notified, 421 were earmarked under the sports quota. A total of 3,600 candidates submitted 5,326 applications, but only 382 candidates were selected based strictly on eligibility and priority criteria, leaving 39 posts vacant.

65 disciplines

Mr. Jain stated that 65 recognised sports disciplines were identified in accordance with the Government of India guidelines issued in March 2024. Priority was accorded to medal winners, with gold medallists receiving the highest preference. The State also announced a cash incentive of ₹7 crore for Andhra Pradesh athletes winning Olympic gold medals.

He said certificates submitted by candidates were verified through multiple levels, including sports federations, associations, universities and government committees. A provisional merit list was published online and objections were invited before finalisation.

Mr. Jain warned that strict legal action would be taken against candidates submitting fake certificates as well as organisations issuing them. He also noted that 69 cases related to sports quota recruitment were filed in the High Court, which had upheld the government's procedures in cases decided so far.