The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is India's Youth Football league organised by the Reliance Foundation in technical support with the AIFF. A total of 60+ teams participates in the tournament. The league was founded to offer opportunities to the young players across the country.

In June 2021 it was proposed after a meeting of the AIFF and CEOs of all the ISL clubs that a new developmental competition called Reliance Foundation Development League would be introduced in 2022. This new league would consist of the youth and reserve teams of all the ISL clubs, with aim to develop young players as there has been limited number of competitions and leagues outside the ISL since the pandemic. The teams would predominantly feature U-21 players with few overage players allowed as well. The inaugural season of the proposed two-month league will be held in Goa inside a bio-secure bubble between January and March, following the same medical and safety procedures for 2021–22 ISL season, but got postponed to April 15.

A total of eight teams competed in a single round basis. A total of 28 matches were played.

59 Teams were divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 4–8 teams.

57 Teams were divided into 8 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 5–9 teams.