Redefining Indian Sports Landscape: Insights on the National Sports Governance Bill
The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 is set to revolutionize India's sports landscape, focusing on professionalizing sports governance and addressing systemic inefficiencies.
Key changes include the recognition of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a National Sports Federation (NSF) under a unified legal framework. This will bring BCCI under the Right to Information (RTI) Act for increased transparency and subject it to the jurisdiction of the proposed National Sports Tribunal for dispute resolution.
A central oversight body, the National Sports Board (NSB), will be established with the power to grant or suspend recognition of NSFs, ensuring compliance with governance norms. The NSB will collaborate with international federations for athlete welfare.
Fixed tenure limits for key positions like President, Secretary General, and Treasurer have been introduced, restricting them to three consecutive terms or 12 years. An age limit of 75 years has been set, extendable to 75 if international sports statutes require it. These measures align with global standards and prevent monopolies in leadership.
Mandatory representation of women, current athletes, and meritorious sportspersons in all NSFs will promote gender equity and ensure athletes have a voice in governance. The size of Executive Committees will be capped at a maximum of 15 members, fostering meritocracy and reducing entrenched interests.
A three-term limit and required cooling-off periods between terms have been implemented to promote fresh leadership. The formation of an independent National Sports Tribunal with an appellate route to the Supreme Court will ensure speedy and expert adjudication of disputes related to elections, mismanagement, or other governance issues within sports bodies.
The bill emphasizes athlete-centric governance by protecting athletes’ rights, ensuring timely and transparent selection processes, and curbing doping and unethical practices throughout sports administration.
The proposed reforms aim to reduce bureaucratic delays, increase transparency around financials and elections, enhance gender and athlete representation, and establish clear, enforceable accountability mechanisms. By doing so, they seek to professionalize sports governance and help India emerge as a credible global sporting power, ready to host major international events like the Olympics.
Sports governance in India will undergo significant transformation with the implementation of the National Sports Governance Bill 2025, focusing on enhancing transparency and resolving systemic inefficiencies. Recognizing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as a National Sports Federation (NSF), the bill mandates that BCCI will now be subject to the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the jurisdiction of the proposed National Sports Tribunal for dispute resolution.
