India Moves to Statutory Sports Governance, Bringing Athletes and Federations under One Legal Framework
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Institutions: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has released three sets of draft rules to operationalise the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, passed by Parliament in August 2025. These draft rules, covering National Sports Bodies, the National Sports Board, and the National Sports Tribunal, seek to create a unified legal framework for governance, transparency, and accountability in Indian sports.
Public feedback is invited within 30 days (by 14 November 2025) through rules-nsga2025@sports.gov.in or post to the Director (Governance-I), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, New Delhi.
National Sports Bodies Rules
Standardises elections and defines tenure and disqualification norms for office bearers.
Mandates inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit in governance structures.
Establishes a National Sports Election Panel to oversee and harmonise elections across federations.
National Sports Board Rules
Creates the National Sports Board (NSB) as a statutory oversight body with powers to evaluate, recognise, and monitor compliance of sports federations.
Sets up a Search-cum-Selection Committee for transparent appointments to the NSB.
Aligns staffing and financial procedures with central government norms.
National Sports Tribunal Rules
Establishes a dedicated National Sports Tribunal as a statutory dispute-resolution body.
Defines appointment procedures, powers, and service conditions for its Chairperson and Members.
Enables faster, legally binding adjudication of disputes within the sports ecosystem.
When enacted, these reforms are expected to bring:
Legal enforceability to governance norms.
Greater athlete participation in decision-making.
Clear oversight and grievance mechanisms via the Board and Tribunal.
Uniform governance structures across sports federations.
This reform represents a historic shift from self-regulated federations to a law-backed, athlete-centric governance regime. The challenge will lie in managing the transitionβbalancing autonomy with accountability, ensuring smaller federations can comply, and maintaining transparency in the exercise of government oversight and exemption powers.
What is the National Sports Governance Act, 2025? β The Act establishes a statutory framework to regulate and professionalise the governance of sports bodies, protect athlete rights, and ensure fair, transparent, and uniform standards across national and regional sports institutions. It replaces the earlier reliance on voluntary codes and model guidelines.
Follow the full news here: PIB Press Release ID 2179281
Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2025
Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2025
Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2025