Why in news?
The government introduced the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha to overhaul how sports bodies are regulated. The bill aims to transform guidelines in the existing Sports Code into enforceable law and bring major bodies such as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under statutory oversight.
Key provisions
- Legal status: The bill converts administrative guidelines into a binding law applicable to National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the BCCI.
- New institutions: It establishes a National Sports Board for oversight, a National Sports Tribunal for dispute resolution and a National Sports Election Panel to ensure fair elections. The tribunal’s decisions can be appealed only to the Supreme Court or, where relevant, to international sports courts.
- Inclusive governance: Executive committees must include at least four women and two elite athletes. Office bearers must be aged between 25 and 70 and cannot hold more than three consecutive terms, with a cooling‑off period.
- Dispute resolution: Sports bodies and the BCCI cannot approach regular courts directly; grievances must first go through the tribunal. Whistle‑blower protection and grievance redress mechanisms are mandatory.
- Safe sport mechanism: The bill provides legal backing to policies against harassment and doping, ensuring that athletes’ welfare and ethics are prioritised.
Significance
The bill seeks to professionalise sports administration, ensure transparency and protect athletes’ rights. By bringing high‑profile bodies like the BCCI under common regulations, it aims to reduce conflict of interest and improve accountability. Implementation will require balancing autonomy for sports federations with public interest and adherence to international sporting norms.