Story up to now: The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, was launched within the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), minutes earlier than being adjourned amid Opposition protests. The Bill, which is one of eight legislations listed for introduction within the ongoing Parliament monsoon session, seeks to manage the assorted sports directors in India. The Bill constitutes a National Sports Board (NSB) which can oversee all sports federations, together with India’s richest sports physique – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
“I did a series of consultations with NSFs, athletes, coaches, also got 600 inputs from the public when the draft was put online for suggestions,” mentioned Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya forward of the monsoon session. He added that worldwide bodies just like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA too had been concerned whereas drafting the Bill.
However, two sports physique which have opposed the Bill are BCCI and Indian Olympic Association (IOA), citing curbing of autonomy.
Here’s a take a look at what the Bill entails and what’s being opposed:
National Sports Body
Recognised sport organisations will likely be ruled by newly established nationwide sports bodies corresponding to – National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and National and Regional Sports Federations for every designated sport. Each nationwide or regional sports federation may have worldwide recognition by the involved worldwide sports governing physique.
Each of the above nationwide sports bodies may have a General physique, a 15-member Executive Committee with at the least 4 girls members, an ethics Committee, a dispute decision committee, and an Athletes committee. Election to the manager committee for a four-year time period is restricted to Indian sportspersons above the age of 25 years however beneath 70 years. Persons between 70 and 75 years might contest elections, if permitted by bye-laws, and shall serve a full time period. The authorities can approve authorities servants to hunt election within the above committee.
National Sports Board (NSB)
A National Sports Board (NSB) will likely be established, which has the powers to recognise, droop or cancel registrations of sports organisations. Its powers additionally embody – (i) conducting inquiry on issues affecting welfare of sportspersons, growth of sports within the nation or misuse of public funds (ii) concern pointers for Code of Ethics by sport bodies, represent administrative bodies (iii) body Safe Sports Policy for the safety and security of girls, minor athletes and others (iv) preserve roster of the National Sports Election panel which can oversee free and honest elections to the Executive Committees and the Athletes Committee of the National Sports Bodies.
The NSB may even collaborate with International and nationwide sports bodies to make sure compliance with the worldwide requirements, safety of the rights of athletes and help personnel. The board can droop or cancel recognition of a sports physique if its worldwide recognition is suspended/cancelled, if it violates any half of this Act, if it has failed to carry elections, publish its annual audited accounts for misused, misapplied, or misappropriated any public funds. No sports organisation will likely be recognised except it’s a registered society, an included not-for-profit firm or a registered belief.
The Centre is empowered to nominate officers and staff to discharge NSB’s capabilities.
Election panel and tribunal
A National Sports Election Panel comprising of retired Chief/State Election Commissioner and different such electoral officers will likely be constituted, and each sports organisation shall appoint an electoral officer from the panel to supervise its election course of.
A 3-member National Sports Tribunal may even be constituted, headed by a former choose of the High Court or Supreme Court, to make sure ‘independent, speedy and cost-efficient’ disposal of sports-related disputes. The tribunal has powers just like a civil court docket and may summon anybody under oath, search proof, paperwork of discovery, and public data from any workplace. No civil court docket is allowed to listen to pleas on issues by which Tribunal has jurisdiction. All circumstances by which National Sports Bodies are events and are pending earlier than a District Court or High Court will likely be transferred to the Tribunal on a date specified by the Centre.
However, the Tribunal can not adjudicate on disputes throughout occasions organised by International Federations such because the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and many others. It additionally doesn’t have jurisdiction on issues handled by the inner disputes decision committee of a National Sports Body, different tribunals, any International Federation, or the Court of Arbitration for Sports. It can not adjudicate on doping-related disputes and involvement of International Charters and Statutes. Its verdict might be appealed to the Supreme Court after a thirty-day deadline.
File photograph of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia throughout their protest towards Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, at Jantar Mantar, on May 28, 2023 in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Other salient options
All sports organisations recognised by the NSB shall be thought of as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with respect to the train of its capabilities, duties and powers.
Any sports organisation looking for to make use of the phrase “India” or “Indian” or “National” or any nationwide insignia or symbols in any language in its registered title, working title, emblem, or in any other case should receive a no-objection certification by the Centre. Upon suspension/cancellation of its registration, the sports organisation can not use the title “India” or the title of any State or district in India, or conduct any sports trials, tournaments, or occasions.
The Board will preserve accounts, data, and put together an annual assertion which shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at any interval it appears match.
The Centre has sweeping powers to make guidelines for modes of election to totally different sports bodies, membership to the Board, measures to make sure safety of rights and welfare of athletes, powers and capabilities of the Board, wage, qualification and time period of numerous members elected to those bodies. It can be empowered to chill out eligibility standards for members, impose restrictions on participation of any nationwide staff/sportspersons of a involved sport in worldwide sports competitions within the curiosity of nationwide safety, public order and security.
Any motion taken ‘in good faith’ by the Board or a National Sports Body or the Tribunal or any of their worker is protected against authorized proceedings.
