Welcoming the IOC decision, the Indian Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Jitendra Singh in a statement here on Tuesday said “The Government of India congratulates the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and everyone else involved, on India getting back into the Olympic movement. It is good to know that our sportspeople will again be able to compete under the Indian Flag. The Ministry is glad that considerations like ethics and transparency are now centre-stage in the world of Indian Sport. '

The IOC lifted the 14-month old ban on India after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) barred charge-framed officials from its fresh election held on Sunday in which World Squash Federation chief and younger brother of BCCI boss N Srinivasan, N Ramachandran, was elected as the president. All India Tennis Association (AITA) chief Anil Khanna was elected Treasurer and Rajeev Mehta as Secretary General in the polls which marked the exit of corruption-tainted Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit Bhanot from the IOA.

Two days later the (IOC) lifted its 14-month ban in the wake of 'free and fair elections' to the IOA. The IOC Executive Board (EB) at an ad-hoc meeting in Sochi took the decision following a report submitted by a three-member delegation, headed by Robin Mitchell, who were the observers at the IOA General Assembly.

IOC's head of institutional relations, Jerome Poivey has said that the amended IOA constitution was one of the best in the world and it should be implemented fully.

The IOC observers informed the Executive Board members that the elections to IOA were held in full respect of the recently passed the National Olympic body's constitution, which complies with all IOC rules, including the clause that no person convicted or charge-framed can run for a position within the organisation.

This is the first time in the history of Olympic that a suspension of a national Olympics body was lifted during an Olympic Games, and the decision came to an immediate effect.

The three Indian athletes, who were competing under the IOC flag in the Sochi Winter Games (Februray 7-23), can now participate under the Indian flag. They took part in the Opening Ceremony under the Olympic flag and have competed as Independent Olympic Participants. Now Indian flag will also be raised at the Games Village in Sochi.

The IOC had suspended IOA on December 4, 2012 after it failed to comply with the Olympic Charter and its statutes, relating specifically to good governance, during its controversial election process and for allowing tainted persons to take part in the election process. The IOA was no longer entitled to exercise any activity or right, including financial support, conferred upon it by the Olympic Charter or the IOC, since that date.

The Indian Sports Minister informed that his ministry was actively working on a new Sports Bill to give further legal teeth and clarity to the existing Sports Code.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) also notes that all National Sports Federations including the IOA, barring only a tiny minority, have now adopted the Sports Code. This is a major achievement as, similar attempts in the past had not fructified.

'Government is committed to ensure ethics, transparency and good governance in sports in India and will make all efforts to ensure that Indian sportsperson are fully supported as they strive hard to bring laurels to the nation in the international sporting arena,' Sports Minister Singh said.

There are many challenges just ahead with the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics due in 2016.

'MYAS looks forward to a close co-operation with the new office bearers of the IOC,” he said.

The process of India’s return to the Olympic movement started with the Indian Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Jitendra Singh meeting with the President and other IOC authorities in Lausanne in May 2013 in an effort to ensure that conditions are created for ending the suspension of IOA at the earliest. The issue of debarring charge framed officials from contesting elections or continuing in office was first raised then and the IOC was apprised of the support of the Government of India for such a measure.