AIFF announced that the zonal rounds for the league that started from 20 November 2017 in Chennai, Maharashtra, Kolkata and Delhi.
[1] AIFF Elite Academy were three-time defending champions, but did not participate in the tournament.
Shillong Lajong won their first title by defeating Kerala Blasters 2–0 in the final on 26 May 2018.
All matches played at Minerva Training Ground, Ludhiana.
All matches played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Shillong).