A request has been filed by Indian Olympic Association head N Ramachandran for the National Capital Region around New Delhi to play host to the event.

According to the Press Trust of India, the Government responded by saying the Sports Ministry was "pleased to accord in principle approval for bidding".

A letter sent by Government under-secretary A K Patro reportedly added that it would still be "subject to requisite approvals from Ministry of External Affairs for political clearance and Ministry for Home Affairs for security clearance and necessary approvals from host city of National Capital Region".

If successful, it would mark just the second IOC Session to be held in India after the 1983 edition also took place in New Delhi.

The 2019 Session is expected to be the location for the host city of the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Milan is also planning to bid to host the event, partly to compensate for Rome abandoning its bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

IOC President Thomas Bach travelled to India in 2015 and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He ended rumours that the country was planning a 2024 bid during the visit by saying that such an attempt would be "too soon".

It is expected that the 2019 IOC Session host will be named at this year's event in Lima.