India has taken a fresh step towards bringing Formula One back to the country, with the government constituting a high-level Task Force to examine the challenges facing motorsports and prepare a roadmap for the development of the sector.
The panel will assess the feasibility of hosting a Formula One Grand Prix in India in 2028, signalling a renewed push to bring the premier global motorsport championship back after more than a decade.
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The government’s move goes beyond simply exploring the return of an F1 race. The Task Force will examine motorsports as a wider ecosystem with potential benefits for tourism, investment, infrastructure and India’s international sporting profile.
A key focus of the panel will be taxation-related issues and other challenges that have affected the growth and hosting of major motorsport events in the country. It will also assess infrastructure and operational requirements for organising international-level races.
The Task Force has been asked to identify policy interventions required for the sustainable growth of motorsports in India. It will prepare a coordinated roadmap for the sector and examine ways to create an environment that can support both domestic and international events.
Another important part of its mandate is to explore potential Public-Private Partnership models. Such arrangements could help bring together government agencies, private investors and motorsport stakeholders to develop infrastructure and support large-scale racing events.
The panel will also study the wider economic and tourism benefits of hosting major motorsport events. According to the report, the assessment will cover the potential international, economic, tourism and investment impact associated with bringing global motorsport back to India.
India previously hosted Formula One races at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. The country held three Grand Prix events between 2011 and 2013, but the race was subsequently dropped amid taxation, regulatory and financial challenges.
The proposed assessment therefore comes more than a decade after India last hosted an F1 race. The government’s latest initiative could potentially reopen the door for the country to become a Formula One destination once again.
The Task Force will be chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director (YAS) at NITI Aayog. Its members include the Joint Secretary, Department of Sports; Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; and representatives from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and the Central Board of Direct Taxes under the Department of Revenue.
Representatives from the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra will also be part of the panel. The Buddh International Circuit and Madras International Circuit will have representation, along with the President or Secretary General of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India.
A technical expert nominated by the federation will also join the panel. The chairperson will have the flexibility to co-opt additional members depending on the requirements of the assessment.
The task force’s findings could determine whether India is ready to host Formula One again, while also shaping a broader policy framework for the country’s motorsport industry.
