National Sports Governance Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha: What It Means for Athletes
News18 has learnt that the Ministry of Sports is moving quickly to finalise rules for the bill’s implementation.
On Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha approved the much-awaited National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, despite strong protests and slogans from the opposition benches. The government, keen to push this reform during the ongoing monsoon session, described the bill as a landmark step in revamping sports administration across the country.
According to a senior government official, “Eighty per cent of the work on framing the rules is already complete, and the official notification is expected within the next couple of months.” Once the rules are notified, the National Sports Board (NSB) will be formed to recognise and regulate sports federations at the national and state levels.
The bill also provides for the creation of a National Sports Election Panel, which will oversee free and fair elections in federations. This panel will include members with expertise in conducting federation polls, aimed at avoiding the legal disputes that have frequently hindered Indian sports bodies in the past.
Athletes, particularly women, will have a central role in decision-making with mandatory Athletes’ Committees in all federations. For the first time, the law mandates a minimum of four women members in every Executive Committee.
Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) will be granted voting rights in the National Sports Federations (NSFs), National Olympic Committee (NOC), and National Paralympic Committee (NPC). Gender representation on Executive Committees is compulsory.
A specialised National Sports Tribunal will be set up to handle disputes, with appeals allowed only to the Supreme Court. In cases where a federation is suspended, ad-hoc committees will be appointed to manage day-to-day affairs, ensuring that training and competitions continue without interruption.
The bill aims to align Indian sports governance with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, strengthening India’s position to host major international sporting events, including a possible bid for the 2036 Olympics.
India’s sports administration has long been troubled by controversies such as court cases over federation elections, mismanagement, and lack of athlete involvement. At present, over 350 court cases relating to sports federations are pending, causing serious challenges to governance and sports development.
By introducing transparency, athlete participation, and gender equality into the legal framework, the bill seeks not only to reform administration but also to boost India’s reputation as a global sporting powerhouse.
