 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 2 (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.