National Sports Governance Bill – Provisions, Significance & Limitations – Explained Pointwise

The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, recently introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Bill intends to bring comprehensive reforms in the sports administration & governance in the country, incorporating ethical practices, athlete welfare, and institutional standards. The Bill marks a watershed moment in India’s sporting history by introducing significant reforms in sports governance that has hindered the nation’s athletic potential for decades.

Important Provisions of National Sports Governance Bill:

1. Establishment of NATIONAL SPORTS GOVERNING BODIES:

• National Olympic Committee (NOC): Designated as the sole governing body for Olympic sports in India.
• National Paralympic Committee (NPC): Sole authority for governing Paralympic sports in the country.
• Other Federations: The Bill formally recognises National Sports Federations (NSFs) and Regional Sports Federations (RSFs) to streamline sports governance at national and regional levels.

2. Creation of the NATIONAL SPORTS BOARD (NSB):

• A statutory regulatory body akin to SEBI, tasked with overseeing the functioning of all sports federations, including the BCCI.
• Empowered to grant recognition to sports bodies and enforce uniform governance standards.
• Will register all affiliated units of NSFs to improve transparency and coordination in the sports ecosystem.
• Equipped with budgetary support and capacity to hire domain experts in law, auditing, and governance.

3. Setting up of the NATIONAL SPORTS TRIBUNAL (NST):

• An independent dispute resolution body with powers equivalent to a civil court.
• Headed by a Chairperson (a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge or Chief Justice of a High Court) along with two members with expertise in sports, administration, and law.
• Responsible for adjudicating disputes related to athlete selection, federation elections, governance matters etc.
• Appeals from the Tribunal can be made only to the Supreme Court.
• Civil courts will have no jurisdiction over matters covered by the Tribunal.
• All expenses will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.

4. National Sports Election Panel: A dedicated panel to ensure free and fair elections for the Executive and Athletes’ Committees of all recognised National Sports Bodies.

5. Code of Ethics and Transparency:

• Mandatory for every National Sports Body to adopt a Code of Ethics in line with international norms.
• Emphasis on governance through information—ensuring federations make essential data publicly accessible.
• RTI Compliance: All recognized sports organizations will be covered under the Right to Information Act, 2005, enhancing public accountability.

6. Safe Sport Policy and Grievance Redressal:

• Requires all sports bodies to implement a Safe Sports Policy to protect vulnerable groups, especially women and minor athletes.
• Grievance redressal mechanisms must be athlete-friendly, transparent, and time-bound.

7. Age and Tenure norms for Administrators:

• Upper age limit raised to 75 years.
• Removal of fixed tenure restrictions to help Indian administrators secure leadership roles in international sports bodies.

8. Bringing the BCCI under the regulatory framework:

• Though traditionally outside the ambit of government oversight, the Bill proposes bringing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under its regulatory scope.
• Once the Bill is enacted, the BCCI will have to get official recognition from the new National Sports Board. Any disputes involving the BCCI will be handled by the National Sports Tribunal.

What are the key objectives of the Bill?

1. Promote Good Governance: Establish ethical practices and universal principles of good governance, fair play, and transparency within national sports bodies, aligning them with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters and international best practices.
2. Formalize Sports Administration: Provide a legal backbone to sports governance, replacing the non-statutory Sports Code of 2011, which lacked enforceability.
3. Promotion of Sports and Welfare of Athletes: Establish frameworks for sports promotion and athlete welfare, while ensuring ethical practices in governance.
4. Institutional Capacity and Standards: Develop governance for sports federations aligned with global standards, Olympic principles, and ethical conduct.
5. Sports Dispute Resolution: Facilitate a unified and equitable system for resolving sports-related grievances and disputes.
6. Prepare for Global Events: Position India as a global leader in sports and strengthen its bid to host major international events like the 2036 Olympics by demonstrating a commitment to clean and professional sports governance.

What is the significance of the Bill?

1. Enhanced Transparency and Accountability:
   • RTI Compliance: Bringing all recognized sports bodies, including the BCCI, under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act is a landmark step. This will significantly increase public scrutiny and force federations to be more transparent in their functioning, decision-making, and financial management.
   • CAG Audits: Mandating periodic audits by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) for the National Sports Board Fund will ensure greater fiscal discipline and accountability in the use of public funds.
   • By holding Federations accountable for their financial decisions, the Bill ensures that resources reach those who need them the most i.e. the emerging athletes, coaches & training facilities.
   • Introduction of Whistleblower Protection will empower the athletes & officials to report corruption without fear of retaliation.
2. Athlete-Centric Approach and Welfare:
   • The mandate for a minimum number of sportspersons of outstanding merit in the Executive Committees and General Bodies of federations ensures that athletes, who are the core stakeholders, have a direct voice in governance and policy-making. This is a crucial step towards making sports administration truly athlete-centric.
   • The introduction of a “Safe Sports Policy” with safeguards against harassment and abuse, particularly for women and minors, is vital for creating a secure and supportive environment for athletes. This aligns with global best practices for athlete protection.
3. National Sports Tribunal (NST): The establishment of a dedicated NST, headed by a high-ranking judicial officer, is a major positive which will help in reducing the litigation of sports-related disputes in the already overburdened judicial system of the country. It will also ensure that such disputes are resolved by bodies comprising of experts in the field of sports administration – leading to more informed & consistent judgments.
4. Improved Governance & Professionalism of National Sports Governing Bodies: 
   • Statutory Backing: Moving from a non-statutory Sports Code to a full-fledged Bill provides a stronger legal foundation for governance, making guidelines enforceable.
   • Electoral Panel: The creation of a National Sports Election Panel to oversee elections aims to ensure free, fair, and democratic processes within sports federations, reducing disputes over election irregularities.
5. Gender Diversity: The Bill mandates for a minimum number of women in executive committees is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and inclusivity in sports administration.
6. Compliance with International Charters: The Bill explicitly aims to align Indian sports governance with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, Paralympic Charter, and international best practices. This will enhance India’s credibility at the international level & will open doors for greater collaboration, funding & hosting opportunities of the country.
7. Code of Ethics: The requirement for national sports bodies to establish and adhere to a Code of Ethics will promote ethical conduct and reduce instances of corruption, doping and conflict of interest.

What are the some of the criticisms of the Bill?

1. Concerns over Autonomy and Government Interference: A primary criticism is the potential for the Bill to violate the autonomy of National Sports Federations (NSFs) & the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). International bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) strictly adhere to the principle of autonomy for national sports bodies. Excessive government control or interference could lead to the suspension or de-recognition of Indian sports bodies by these international organizations, potentially barring Indian athletes from participating in international events. For e.g. the proposed National Sports Board is given significance overriding powers to grant or suspend recognition of sports bodies – which could lead to direct govt control over day-to-day functioning of the autonomous sports bodies.
2. Relaxation of Age Limits: While the previous Sports Code (2011) had stricter age and tenure limits, the Bill reportedly allows for an upper age limit of 70 years for office bearers, extendable to 75 if permitted by international charters. Critics argue that this relaxation could lead to the entrenchment of older administrators, hindering the induction of fresh talent and ideas, and potentially allowing “institutional capture” by long-serving officials. Relaxation of age limit will limit the upward mobility of younger, former sportsperson into top leadership roles.
3. National Sports Tribunal (NST) Jurisdiction and Appeals:
   • Exclusion of disputes related to games organized by international bodies and anti-doping cases from the jurisdiction of NST means that a significant portion of sports disputes might still fall outside its purview.
   • Mandating the Supreme Court as the primary appellate body for NST decisions might add to the already heavy workload of the apex court, potentially defeating the purpose of faster dispute resolution.
4. Lack of Clarity on State Associations: The Bill lacks clarity on the role and regulation of State Olympic Associations and State Sports Federations, potentially weakening decentralization efforts and creating a regulatory vacuum at the state level.

Conclusion:
Despites some of its criticisms (which must be addressed) the Bill is not a piecemeal effort rather it aims to bring holistic overhaul to tackle every facet of sports governance in our country. The government & administration must now demonstrate unwavering commitment to implement these measures without succumbing to pressure from vested interests.