Jairam Ramesh questions NITI Aayog task force on F1 revival

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday questioned the constitution of a NITI Aayog task force to assess the feasibility of reviving the Formula One Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida. In a post on X, he alleged "cronyism" by the Modi government, saying BIC and other assets were taken over by the "Modani" conglomerate a few months back. The task force, chaired by NITI Aayog Programme Director Yugal Kishore Joshi, will examine taxation issues, infrastructure and PPP models. The Indian Grand Prix ran from 2011 to 2013, won each time by Sebastian Vettel.

Written by AI from NITI Aayog · not yet reviewed by an editor · Published 16 Sept 2026, 2:02 am IST

Source

NITI Aayog · read the original report ↗

#formula one#niti aayog#jairam ramesh#motorsports#buddh international circuit

Desk check · some claims need care

What the desk checked (5)

NITI Aayog has set up a task force to assess feasibility of reviving the Formula One Grand Prix and developing motorsports — Stated as government action in source; details of mandate and members listed, no document cited.
Ramesh alleged 'cronyism' and said BIC and other assets were taken over by the 'Modani conglomerate' a few months back — Attributed to Jairam Ramesh's post on X and quoted directly; allegation unverified in source.
Task force is chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director (YAS), NITI Aayog — Named in source without attribution to a specific order or official statement.
Indian Grand Prix was held at BIC from 2011 to 2013, with Sebastian Vettel winning all three editions for Red Bull Racing — Historical detail as it appears in source; no source given.
India hosted a MotoGP round at BIC in September 2023, which has not returned since — Figure and date appear in source; unattributed.

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Analysts’ view opinion

AI Political Analyst

This is less an argument about sports policy than the Congress reaching for its most familiar political weapon. By linking the timing of the NITI Aayog task force to the recent change of hands at the Buddh International Circuit, Jairam Ramesh puts the "cronyism" charge back at the centre of the frame. The government's counter is built into the order itself — a multi-ministry body examining taxation, infrastructure, PPP models and tourism gains, not a vehicle for concessions to a single circuit. How this lands politically will depend on what the task force actually recommends.

The "Modani" coinage is not a new narrative but an attempt to slot this news into the Congress's existing crony-capitalism framing.
Ramesh's "more will be revealed very soon" signals an opposition intent to run this as a drip-feed campaign rather than a one-day post.
The task force's composition — CBIC, CBDT, Sports, Commerce, Tourism, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, plus the Madras circuit — gives the government room to argue it is sector-wide, not site-specific.
With the Union Sports Minister having visited BIC earlier this year, the Centre can present this as continuity of a stated interest rather than a sudden decision.
An F1 return after 13 years offers Uttar Pradesh a high-visibility showcase, while any public money or tax sweeteners hand the opposition a ready line of attack.

What to watch — Watch for a rebuttal from the government or NITI Aayog, and more importantly for the shape of any tax or incentive recommendations the task force makes — that is what will either strengthen or deflate this political charge.

The story does not establish any link between the task force's creation and the change in ownership of the circuit; these remain allegations, and no government response is recorded here.

Deep dive

Research brief · 8 facts · 8 dates · exam-ready

The brief

Context

The Union government has set up a task force under NITI Aayog to assess the feasibility of reviving the Formula One Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida and of developing India's wider motorsports ecosystem. India hosted the Indian Grand Prix at BIC from 2011 to 2013, after which F1 did not return. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X on Tuesday, questioned the move, alleging "cronyism" because BIC and other assets were taken over by what he called the "Modani" conglomerate from another private company a few months earlier. The dispute turns a sports-revival exercise into a political argument about who benefits from state incentives.

Key facts

NITI Aayog has constituted a Task Force for Formula One Grand Prix feasibility assessment, chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director (YAS), NITI Aayog.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh made his allegation of "cronyism" in a post on X on Tuesday (story datelined New Delhi, September 16).
Ramesh alleged BIC and other assets "had been taken over from another private company by the Modani conglomerate just a few months back".
The Indian Grand Prix was held at BIC from 2011 to 2013; Germany's Sebastian Vettel won all three editions for Red Bull Racing.
The inaugural Indian Grand Prix was held on October 30, 2011, as the 17th round of that Formula One season.
The revival move comes nearly 13 years after the last Indian Grand Prix at the track; F1 has not returned since 2013.
India hosted a MotoGP round at BIC in September 2023, but the event has not returned since.
Task force members include Joint Secretaries of the Departments of Sports and Commerce and Ministry of Tourism, CBIC and CBDT representatives, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra government representatives, BIC and Madras International Circuit representatives, and FMSCI's President/Secretary General plus

Timeline

October 30, 2011Inaugural Indian Grand Prix held at Buddh International Circuit as the 17th round of the F1 season; Sebastian Vettel wins.
2011 to 2013Three editions of the Indian Grand Prix held at BIC, all won by Vettel for Red Bull Racing.
After 2013Formula One does not return to the Indian circuit.
September 2023India hosts a MotoGP round at BIC; the event has not returned since.
Earlier this yearUnion Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visits BIC in Greater Noida, signalling government interest in reviving the Indian Grand Prix.
A few months back (per Ramesh)BIC and other assets taken over from another private company by the conglomerate Ramesh calls "Modani".
Recently / before September 16Government constitutes NITI Aayog task force on F1 feasibility and the motorsports ecosystem.
Tuesday (report dated September 16)Jairam Ramesh questions the task force on X, alleging cronyism and promising "more will be revealed very soon".

Who has a stake

NITI Aayog — Hosts and chairs the task force; its credibility is at stake as it assesses taxation, infrastructure and PPP models for motorsports.
Jairam Ramesh / Congress — Alleges the task force is designed to benefit a private conglomerate; using it to press a cronyism charge against the Modi government.
Union Government (Sports, Commerce, Tourism Ministries) — Seeks international, economic, tourism and investment benefits from hosting motorsport events; faces allegations of favouritism.
Buddh International Circuit and Madras International Circuit — Represented on the task force; direct beneficiaries of any revival, incentives or policy framework.
CBIC and CBDT — Must examine taxation-related issues that have affected the growth of motorsports in India.
Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra governments — State representatives on the task force; potential hosts and providers of infrastructure and operational support.
FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) — National motorsport body on the task force, supplying leadership and a technical expert; stands to gain from a policy framework.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya — Visited BIC earlier this year, signalling political ownership of the revival effort.

Why it matters

The episode shows how a sports-policy decision can become a test of institutional propriety: a government think tank is being asked to recommend financial incentives and PPP models for a facility whose ownership recently changed hands. It also revives a long-standing policy question — whether India's taxation and regulatory treatment of motorsports, blamed for F1's exit after 2013, will be fixed through a comprehensive framework or through case-specific concessions.

UPSC angle

Prelims pointers

Buddh International Circuit is located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh; it hosted the Indian Grand Prix from 2011 to 2013.
The inaugural Indian Grand Prix was on October 30, 2011; Sebastian Vettel won all three editions for Red Bull Racing.
The NITI Aayog F1 task force is chaired by Yugal Kishore Joshi, Programme Director (YAS), NITI Aayog.
FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India) is the national motorsport body represented on the task force.
CBIC and CBDT are on the task force to examine taxation-related issues affecting motorsports.
India hosted a MotoGP round at BIC in September 2023, which has not been repeated.

Mains framing

The NITI Aayog task force on reviving the Formula One Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit illustrates the tension between using state institutions to build a new economic and sporting sector and the risk of those institutions being seen as serving particular private interests. The mandate is broad and defensible on its face: assess taxation and other barriers that have stalled motorsports, quantify international, economic, tourism and investment gains, identify infrastructure and operational priorities, consider a comprehensive policy framework, and recommend PPP models — with tax administrators (CBIC, CBDT), two state governments, two circuits and the FMSCI at the table. The criticism, voiced by Jairam Ramesh, is one of timing and beneficiary: incentives are being examined months after BIC and related assets changed hands to a large conglomerate, which he frames as cronyism. The way forward, on the source's own terms, lies in the task force privileging a sector-wide policy framework and transparent, rule-based tax treatment over facility-specific concessions, with its recommendations, cost-benefit assessment and PPP terms placed in the public domain so that the revival of the Indian Grand Prix is judged on measurable tourism, investment and sporting returns rather than on ownership.

Key terms

NITI Aayog: The Centre's policy think tank, here hosting and chairing the task force on F1 feasibility and motorsports development.
Buddh International Circuit (BIC): Motorsport track in Greater Noida that hosted the Indian Grand Prix (2011-2013) and a MotoGP round in September 2023.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Model of joint government-private investment and operation; the task force must recommend suitable PPP models for motorsports.
FMSCI: Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, the national motorsport body whose President/Secretary General and a nominated technical expert are task force members.
CBIC and CBDT: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Central Board of Direct Taxes, represented to address taxation issues facing motorsports.
"Modani": Term used by Jairam Ramesh in his X post for the conglomerate he says took over BIC and other assets from another private company.

Practice questions

Examine the propriety concerns that arise when a government think tank recommends financial incentives and PPP models for privately held sporting infrastructure. Illustrate with the NITI Aayog Formula One task force.
"India's motorsport potential has been constrained more by taxation and policy gaps than by lack of demand." Discuss with reference to the discontinuation of the Indian Grand Prix after 2013 and the mandate of the new task force.
What safeguards can ensure that PPP-based revival of large sporting events serves public interest rather than private gain? Discuss in the Indian context.

Grounded only in the source report — figures and dates are the source's, not inferred.

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