Reshaping Indian Sports: The Governance Bill 2025

After years of deliberation and multiple attempts, the Central government has finally introduced the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in Parliament. This landmark piece of legislation aims to revolutionize the administration of sports in India, promising greater transparency, accountability, and a more athlete-centric approach across all National Sports Federations (NSFs).

The timing of the Bill's introduction, alongside the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, underscores India's ambition to transform its sports ecosystem, especially with an eye on bidding for major international events like the 2036 Summer Olympic Games. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the imperative for a "positive transformation" in sports governance to achieve better outcomes and sporting excellence.

Key Pillars of the Bill:

The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 is designed to address ten persistent issues plaguing Indian sports administration, including frequent litigation, lack of a dedicated dispute resolution forum, weak athlete representation, and financial mismanagement. Its core provisions include:

1. National Sports Board (NSB): A central regulatory body with sweeping powers to grant or suspend recognition of all NSFs. This Board will ensure ethical functioning and provide administrative direction. It will also be responsible for monitoring and overseeing the functioning of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and NSFs.
2. National Sports Tribunal (NST): To streamline dispute resolution, the Bill proposes the establishment of an NST with the powers of a civil court. This tribunal will handle all sports-related disputes, from elections to athlete selections, with appeals lying only with the Supreme Court. This aims to significantly reduce the current backlog of over 350 cases in various courts.
3. Inclusion of BCCI: In a significant move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), hitherto largely autonomous, will be recognized as an NSF and brought under the Bill's governance framework. This means the BCCI, like all other federations, will be required to seek annual recognition and its disputes will be resolved by the National Sports Tribunal. Critically, the BCCI will also come under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005, a provision that the cash-rich cricket body has historically resisted due to its financial independence from government funding.
4. Athlete and Gender Representation: The Bill mandates the inclusion of at least two "sportspersons of outstanding merit" and four women in the Executive Committees of sports bodies, with the overall committee strength capped at 15 members.
5. Age and Tenure Limits: It addresses the contentious issues of age and tenure for office-bearers. While a cap of 70 years is generally maintained, it allows officials to complete their full term even if they cross 70 during their tenure, provided international charters permit. For key positions like President, Secretary, and Treasurer, officials can serve up to three consecutive terms (maximum 12 years), followed by a cooling-off period.
6. National Sports Election Panel: To ensure free and fair elections within sports bodies, the Bill proposes an independent panel consisting of former members of the Election Commission of India or State Election Commissions.

Dispelling Misconceptions and the Path Ahead:

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has sought to clarify that the Bill aims to facilitate good governance, not to control NSFs. It emphasizes ensuring autonomy while enforcing basic governance standards. However, the sweeping powers granted to the National Sports Board, whose members will be appointed by the central government, remain a point of discussion.

While the Bill's introduction is a major step, it still needs to be debated and passed by both Houses of Parliament to become law. The inclusion of the BCCI under its purview is a particularly watched development, given the cricket board's unique stature.

The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 signals a decisive shift towards greater accountability and professionalism in Indian sports. If implemented effectively, it has the potential to usher in an era of fair play, transparency, and enhanced athlete welfare, paving the way for India to truly shine on the global sporting stage.