New Delhi: India’s new legal framework for sports administration began rolling out on Thursday, January 1, with the partial enforcement of the National Sports Governance Act, setting in motion the creation of central oversight and dispute resolution institutions for the sector.
According to a report by The Hindu, the phased implementation marks the start of work towards establishing a National Sports Board and a National Sports Tribunal, two statutory bodies expected to play a key role in regulating sports governance and settling disputes across disciplines.
The Act, which was notified on August 18 last year, has been brought into force in stages to allow a gradual shift to the new system. The provisions notified at this stage focus on the structure and functioning of National Sports Bodies, including the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations and Regional Sports Federations.
In a release issued late on December 31, the Sports Ministry said selected sections of the law would take effect from January 1, 2026, allowing the institutional framework set out in the Act to become operational.
Under the new rules, all recognised sports bodies will be required to conduct elections in line with the revised framework. Executive committees will be capped at 15 members and must include at least two Sportspersons of Merit.
The partial rollout also initiates the process for setting up the National Sports Board and the National Sports Tribunal. The National Sports Board will consist of a chairperson and members appointed by the Central government from among individuals with experience in public administration, sports governance and sports law, based on the recommendations of a search-cum-selection committee. Affiliation with the board will be mandatory for sports federations seeking government funding.
Members of the National Sports Tribunal will have a four-year tenure, with an upper age limit of 67 years. The Act also provides for the creation of a National Sports Election Panel to supervise elections across sports bodies.
To ease the transition, the ministry has allowed National Sports Federations with elections due in the near future to defer the process until December 2026. This provision is expected to impact organisations such as the All India Football Federation.
The rules further define eligibility conditions for athletes aspiring to take up administrative roles, laying down graded qualifications linked to Olympic participation, medal wins and performances at national and world championships.
BI Bureau
