The state football associations are the regional governing bodies of football in India. There are 36 state associations and 2 affiliates associations to the All India Football Federation.[1]
The state associations have their own constitutions and structure. Depending on the size of the state, some associations have affiliated sub-district associations. Each state conducts its own competitions, while the local sub-associations organise lower tier leagues.
The National Football Championships, known as Hero NFC for sponsorship ties, are inter-state knock-out competitions contested among the regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation, national governing body. Currently six (3 men's & 3 women's) championship competitions are held for age different groups.