Why in the News?

• The Government is all set to introduce the National Sports Governance Bill in Parliament in the monsoon session.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• National Sports Governance Bill (Introduction, Key Provisions, Inclusion of BCCI, Rationale, etc.)

Introduction

• The Union Government is set to introduce the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in Parliament, marking a significant move towards reforming the governance of sports bodies in India.
• The Bill seeks to streamline regulatory oversight, promote athlete-centric policies, ensure fair and timely dispute resolution, and bring transparency to the functioning of all National Sports Federations (NSFs), including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
• In a major shift from a perceived “controller” role to that of a “facilitator,” the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aims to empower Indian sports to achieve global competitiveness while reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and legal disputes.

Key Provisions of the National Sports Governance Bill

• Establishment of National Sports Board
  • A National Sports Board will be constituted to oversee:

• Recognition and suspension of NSFs
• Monitoring compliance with governance and athlete welfare standards
• Ensuring timely and fair conduct of elections
• The Board will consist of members, including a chairperson, appointed by the central government.
• It will act as a watchdog for ethical functioning and provide administrative direction to the NSFs.

• Formation of National Sports Tribunal
  • To address the legal logjam in the sporting ecosystem, the Bill proposes the creation of a National Sports Tribunal (NST).
  • Headed by a Supreme Court judge
  • Will resolve disputes related to elections, selection, and internal administration of NSFs
  • Appeals from the NST’s decisions will lie only with the Supreme Court

• However, the NST will not cover:

• Disputes arising during Olympic, Asian, or Commonwealth Games
• Matters governed by international federations
• Anti-doping cases, which remain under the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)

Inclusion of BCCI under the Sports Governance Framework

• A notable feature of the Bill is the inclusion of the BCCI, which until now has operated as an autonomous entity under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, and is not officially recognised as an NSF.
• Once the Bill becomes law, the BCCI will need recognition from the proposed National Sports Board.
• BCCI’s disputes will be referred to the National Sports Tribunal.
• It will also come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, ensuring public accountability.
• While the BCCI has adopted the Lodha Committee reforms (mandated by the Supreme Court), including tenure and age limits for office-bearers, it has resisted being classified under NSFs due to its financial independence from the Sports Ministry.

Empowering Athletes and Ensuring Good Governance

• The Bill is explicitly athlete-centric, focusing on:

• Representation of athletes in administrative roles
• Safeguarding athlete rights
• Ensuring timely and transparent selections
• Curbing doping and unethical practices

• By aligning age and tenure norms with international bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Bill allows for experienced administrators to continue if permitted by global standards.
• It also proposes raising the upper age cap from 70 to 75 years.

Rationale Behind the Bill

• The Sports Ministry is currently facing over 300 legal cases from various federations, hampering sports development.
• Many NSFs are mired in protracted legal disputes over governance and elections, harming athletes and administrators alike.
• With India bidding for the 2036 Olympics and T20 cricket included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the government is keen to ensure global credibility and institutional accountability in Indian sports governance.