The Government of India has enacted the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (No. 25 of 2025), published in the Gazette of India on 18 August 2025. The legislation aims to establish a unified and transparent governance framework for sports in the country, aligning national sports bodies with international standards such as the Olympic Charter and the Paralympic Charter.
The Act provides for:
• Establishment of the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations, and Regional Sports Federations as official governing bodies.
• Creation of a National Sports Board with regulatory powers, including recognition of sports bodies, oversight of governance, safe sports policies, and protection of athletes’ rights.
• Mandatory Code of Ethics and Safe Sports Policy for all recognised sports bodies to ensure fair play, transparency, and protection of vulnerable athletes.
• A dedicated National Sports Tribunal for speedy and cost-effective resolution of sports-related disputes, with appeals lying to the Supreme Court.
• Oversight of elections in sports bodies through a National Sports Election Panel, comprising former Election Commissioners and senior officials.
• Recognition of sports organisations as public authorities under the RTI Act, 2005, if they receive government grants.
• Strict rules on the use of national names and insignia in sports organisations, requiring prior government approval.
• Establishment of the National Sports Board Fund to support governance, athlete welfare, and development initiatives.
Read More Click here