2026 | Vol 2(2) | February

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (NSGA) represents a landmark shift in the administration of Indian sports. Enacted to modernize a system previously governed by the ad-hoc National Sports Development Code of 2011, the Act provides a statutory framework aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and athlete welfare.

Objectives and Scope

The primary objective of the NSGA 2025 is to align Indian sports governance with international standards, specifically the Olympic Charter and the Paralympic Charter. It seeks to:

Standardize the recognition and functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs).

Eliminate administrative factionalism and political interference.

Protect the rights and welfare of athletes.

Ensure financial transparency through mandatory audits.

The Act applies to the National Olympic Committee (NOC), the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), and all National and Regional Sports Federations (NSFs/RSFs) recognized by the government.

Institutional Framework

The Act introduces several new bodies to decentralize power and provide specialized oversight:

The National Sports Board (NSB)

The NSB is the central regulatory authority. Its duties include:

Recognition: Granting, renewing, or suspending the recognition of sports bodies.

Funding: Only NSB-recognized bodies are eligible for government grants.

Oversight: Investigating financial mismanagement and governance lapses.

Policy: Framing a mandatory Safe Sports Policy to protect women and minor athletes from abuse.

National Sports Tribunal (NST)

To reduce the burden on civil courts and provide specialized dispute resolution, the Act establishes the NST.

Composition: Chaired by a sitting or former Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court Chief Justice, accompanied by two experts in sports or law.

Jurisdiction: It adjudicates sports-related disputes, including selection grievances and administrative conflicts.

Appeals: Decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court, unless international statutes require an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.

National Sports Election Panel (NSEP)

To ensure democratic and fair leadership, the NSEP oversees elections for the Executive Committees of sports bodies. This panel is composed of officials with experience in conducting national elections under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Governance Reforms and Term Limits

The NSGA introduces strict "Good Governance" norms to prevent the long-term dominance of specific individuals in sports administration:

Executive Committee (EC) Structure: Limited to 15 members, including a President, Secretary General, and Treasurer.

Athlete Representation: Every EC must include at least two Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) and two athlete representatives.

Gender Parity: The Act mandates that at least four women (or 30% in some provisions) serve on the Executive Committee.

Age and Tenure: Office bearers must be between 25 and 70 years old. A person can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms (subject to a cooling-off period) in the same or combined roles.

Athlete Welfare and Rights

Shifting from an administrator-centric to an athlete-centric model, the Act mandates:

Athletes' Committees: These must be established within every NSF to give athletes a platform for policy contribution and grievance voicing.

Safe Sport Standards: Protection against harassment, bullying, and exploitation is now a statutory requirement.

RTI Compliance: Recognized sports bodies are deemed "Public Authorities" under the Right to Information Act, 2005, meaning their financial and administrative decisions are open to public scrutiny.

Financial Accountability

The Act brings sports bodies under the scrutiny of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. All federations receiving public funds must maintain audited accounts and are liable to inquiries by the NSB if misuse of funds is suspected. This measure is specifically designed to address historical issues of opaque spending and corruption within federations.

Conclusion

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, is a declaration of India's intent to professionalize its sports ecosystem. By codifying ethical standards, enforcing term limits, and empowering athletes, the Act aims to create a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) in the arena of global sports.

References

India Code: https://www.indiacode.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/22045/1/2025-25.pdf