New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS): The sports ministry Tuesday asked all the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to conduct their elections at least a month before the expiry of the term of their office bearers.

"Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has advised that all National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) shall conduct their election to elect new office bearers at least one month before the expiry of the term of the office bearers," the ministry said in a statement here.

The ministry said the elections should be conducted as per the guidelines issued by it, including those on age and tenure limits.

The ministry's decision came after it noticed that some NSFs were not holding their elections on time.

"According to the communication, the matter of holding elections of office bearers of the NSFs on time has been reviewed in the Ministry. It has been noticed that some NSFs do not hold their elections on time and delay the conduct of the elections on some plea or the other," the statement said.

In exceptional circumstances and in deserving cases, however, extension of maximum of three months could be considered by the ministry, the statement said.