The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 and the Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill amid a heavy sloganeering by the opposition. The leaders of the opposition took out a huge protest march against the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Review (SIR) of voter rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Amid the chaos, the lower house cleared the National Sports Governance Bill, which aims to bring landmark changes in the country’s entire sports landscape, especially to make the Indian sports bodies at part with international standards.

One of the biggest high of the bill is the provision to include the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) under the Central government’s ambit. World’s richest cricket board, worth Rs 18,760 crore, will be governed by the sports ministry after the bills is cleared.

Apart from that, the Central government would also make provisions to establish new bodies for all the sports, a National Sports Board, and a Tribunal to hear the legal cases arising due to various reasons. The Bill also sets the timeline for those holding key posts in different councils and committees, again, to be formed as per the Bill, once it becomes an Act.

This comes as India pushes to host 2036 Olympics and cricket is also set to make its return at the games from 2028.

How will the Bill impact BCCI’s operations?

The BCCI is a private entity, out of any control from the government and handles all the operations relating to cricket across the country. Now, if the bill gets enacted as an Act, the BCCI and any of its state affiliates would have to apply for annual recognition like any other sports federation.

The board, the richest sports body in the country, will also not be able to approach courts directly in case of any dispute, as it would have to first bring its concern before the National Sports Tribunal.

The Bill, which Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the “single biggest reform in Indian sports since Independence”, makes it mandatory to cap the age of the President, Secretary General and Treasure to 70 years; unless allowed by the international body of the sport.

Sports bodies to come under RTI

The Bill states that a “recognised sports organisation shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties and powers under this Act”. This means that any information sought under RTI from these sports bodies, including the BCCI, would be answerable. If adopted as an Act, the BCCI will become a National Sports Federation (NSF) and will come under the ambit of the Central government.

However, reports suggest only those federations who receive funds from government will have to comply by the RTI.

People would be able to ask anything from tenure, salaries, policies to decisions – through an RTI application and the sports bodies will have to respond to that.

Panel for elections in sports bodies

The central government, as per the Bill, will have power to establish a national panel of electoral officers to oversee elections of national sports bodies. Elections have been a major concern which several sportspersons have highlighted time and again.

Every national sports body must also constitute an electoral panel to oversee elections of its affiliates. The Centre, however, will have the power to exempt a national body or its affiliates from any or all provisions of the Bill, if necessary in public interest for promotion of that sport.

Key changes introduced in the National Sports Governance Bill

The Bill provides for the establishment of several National Sports Governing Bodies. These are:

  • National Olympic Committee
  • National Paralympic Committee
  • National and Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport.

The national bodies of each sport will have to have affiliation with their respective international bodies. They will also have affiliate units at state and district levels.

As per the Bill, these sports bodies are also required to form:

  • Certain committees for their functioning.
  • A code of ethics to govern conduct of persons such as members, affiliates, athletes, coaches, and sponsors.
  • A grievance redressal mechanism for complaints from such persons.

Though the sports bodies will be primarily governed by the international charters and statutes, the Central government may intervene in case of a conflict.

Every national sports body will have a general body with an equal number of representatives from each affiliate member and certain ex-officio members. It will have an executive committee consisting of up to 15 members. This executive committee should have at least two outstanding sportspersons and four women.

All these national bodies will have a President, a Secretary General, and a Treasurer. To be appointed to these positions, a person must be a sportsperson of outstanding merit or must have served as a member of the executive committee for at least two full terms, states the Bill. However, a person in these positions cannot serve for more than three consecutive terms, in the same role or in combination.

The member should be aged between 25 years and 70 years, and must comply with international rules on age and term limits. It states that a person aged between 70 and 75 years may become a member if permitted by the international rules.

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What is the National Sports Board?

The Bill allows the central government to establish a National Sports Board (NSB), that will grant recognition to the national sports bodies and register their affiliate units. The Centre will issue funds only to the recognised bodies. The Board may suspend or cancel such recognition or registration, subject to specified conditions.

Some other functions of the NSB include issuing guidelines on code of ethics and compliance with international rules, inquiring into matters affecting welfare of sportspersons, sports development, and misuse of funds. The board will have a chairperson, and a prescribed number of members.

The central government will appoint the members of the NSB on recommendations of a search-cum-selection committee, the Bill states.

The Bill also mandates that any sports organisation desirous of using the word “India” or “Indian” or “National” or any national insignia or symbols in any language in its registered name, operating name, logo or otherwise in its affairs, shall obtain a No-Objection Certificate from the Central Government.

National Sports Tribunal to deal with cases

The Bill also provides for the constitution of a National Sports Tribunal to adjudicate sports related disputes. However, the Tribunal will not have jurisdiction over specified disputes such as those in relation to games organised by international bodies and internal disputes of national sports bodies.

The tribunal will have a chairperson who is sitting or former Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court, and two members who are persons of eminence with experience in sports, public administration, and law.

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Here too, a search-cum-selection committee will recommend appointments to the tribunal. This panel will consist of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a Supreme Court Judge nominated by CJI, Law Secretary, and (iii) Sports Secretary.

The order can be appealed before the Supreme Court.