New Delhi: The National Sports Governance Act will partially come into force from January 1, marking a major step toward restructuring and formalising sports administration in the country. The initial phase of implementation will activate several core provisions of the law, laying the foundation for a new regulatory and dispute resolution framework in Indian sports.
Notified in the Official Gazette on August 18, the Act introduces institutional mechanisms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and professionalism across national sports bodies. The provisions being enforced in the first phase relate primarily to the establishment and governance structure of major sporting organisations, including the National Olympic Committee, the National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations and Regional Sports Federations.
Under the new framework, elections held in accordance with the Act will require these bodies to form Executive Committees with a maximum of 15 members. Each committee must include at least two Sportspersons of Merit, ensuring athlete representation in decision making processes. This move is expected to give players a stronger voice in the administration of their respective sports.
A significant outcome of the partial rollout is the initiation of the National Sports Board and the National Sports Tribunal. The National Sports Board will be composed of a chairperson and members appointed by the central government, selected through a search and selection process. Appointees are expected to have proven integrity and expertise in areas such as sports governance, public administration or sports law.
The National Sports Tribunal will function as a dedicated forum to adjudicate sporting disputes, providing a structured and time bound alternative to lengthy legal proceedings. Tribunal members will serve fixed terms, with defined age limits to maintain independence and efficiency.
To ensure an orderly transition, sports federations with scheduled elections have been allowed to defer them until December, enabling full compliance once all provisions are operational. Once fully implemented, the National Sports Board will have the authority to grant affiliation to federations, oversee financial functioning and impose penalties for violations. Affiliation will be mandatory for federations seeking government funding.
The phased enforcement approach is intended to allow stakeholders adequate time to adapt while moving steadily toward a statutory, athlete centric sports governance system.
