The National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS) is an autonomous training and research institute in India dedicated to water sports, recreational boating, and adventure tourism on water. It is recognised as a designated centre under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and operates as a specialised body for capacity building in the water sports sub-sector of Indian tourism.
| Name | National Institute of Water Sports |
|---|---|
| Acronym | NIWS |
| Type | Autonomous training institute |
| Sector | Tourism, water sports, adventure activities |
| Parent body | Ministry of Tourism, Government of India |
| Location | Goa, India |
| Country | India |
NIWS was established to address the absence of structured, certified training in water-based recreation and sports in India. The institute focuses on producing trained personnel for the country's growing coastal and inland tourism industry, with an emphasis on safety, instruction standards, and operational competence in aquatic environments.
India's long coastline, network of rivers, backwaters, and reservoirs offer significant scope for water-based tourism. To harness this potential and ensure trained manpower for activities such as boating, sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, and other adventure sports, the Government of India set up a dedicated centre. Goa, with its established beach tourism economy and existing maritime infrastructure, was selected as the institute's base.
The institute offers courses across a range of disciplines, which typically include:
As a specialised national-level centre, NIWS plays an important role in standardising water sports training in India. By providing qualified instructors and certified operators, it supports both the safety of tourists and the professional growth of those employed in adventure tourism. Its presence in Goa also aligns it with one of India's principal water sports destinations, allowing year-round practical training in marine conditions.