I-League 2nd Division

The Hero I-League 2nd Division is an Indian professional football league. It is currently the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and I-League. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation with I-League.
The I-League 2nd Division was introduced for the 2008 season, having been previously known as the National Football League 2nd Division. The State FA's nominates the teams who have finished in the top 8 of their respective State Leagues, which are later approved by the All India Football Federation to participate in the consequent 2nd division league.
History.
The I-League 2nd Division was introduced during the 2008 season. The first game was played on 25 March 2008 between Mohammedan and Amity.
The 2008 season saw Mohammedan, Mumbai, Vasco, and Chirag United get promoted to the I-League. The next season in 2009 saw Pune, Shillong Lajong, Viva Kerala, and Salgaocar promoted to the I-League.
Since 2010, only 2 teams were promoted to I-League. ONGC and HAL in that year, in 2011 Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa, with Lajong being promoted for the 2nd time, while in 2012 ONGC and United Sikkim were promoted for 2012–13 season. The 2013 season saw Rangdajied United FC and Mohammedan qualifying for I-League.
In 2014, only one team got promoted from the 2nd division and similarly only one team got relegated from 2013–14 season.
In 2016, only one team was promoted from the 2nd division (Aizawl F.C.) and similarly only one team was relegated from I-League (Dempo).
Sponsorship.
From 2008 to 2011 the league was sponsored by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and was named the ONGC I-League 2nd Division. ONGC was also the title sponsor of the I-League. In October 2011 ONGC was dropped as a sponsor.
Format.
2008–15.
Previously, the league was formatted as a neutral venue competition with teams split into groups in which all the groups play in one stadium each. The final round is contested in a double round-robin format, after which the top two teams get promoted to the I-League.
2015–17.
The I-League core committee approved the plans for the 2015–16 I-League 2nd division matches to be played on a home and away basis. The preliminary rounds will be played as the "conference" system with the teams being divided into Eastern and Western conferences. Top 3 teams from each conference will qualify for the final round of the 2015–2016 season of 2nd division I-League.
To widen the football map of the country and to bolster the football structure, l-League Core Committee decide to launch the 2nd division qualifier for 2016–17 season. Participants from all the state associations would be invited to take part in 2nd division league 2016–17 qualifiers. The state associations need to nominate two teams with best results, apart from the teams who would compete in Hero I-League and 2nd division league in 2015–16 season, from the state league 2015–16, to compete in the 2nd division qualifiers. The teams will fight it out amongst themselves in the zonal round followed by the final round. Eventually top two teams from the final round will get a nod to the 2nd division league 2016–17, provided that they fulfill the club licensing requirements in the due time.
2017–18.
The format was further altered from 2017–18 season, the league was divided in two stages: the Preliminary and the Final. The tournament will also feature reserve teams of Indian Super League clubs. In the preliminary stage, 18 teams were divided into three groups where all matches would be played on a home and away basis. The winners of each group plus the best second-placed team would qualify for the final round. However, if reserve teams of ISL clubs finish as winners or runners-up in any group, the position was passed on onto the next non-ISL team. The final round will be played at a central venue, the winners of which would be promoted to the next tier of Indian Football.
2018–19.
Sixteen teams are allowed to participate in this season by the league committee.
Clubs.
The following clubs participated in the 2019–20 I-League 2nd Division:
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