Centre Invites Feedback on Draft Rules to Implement National Sports Governance Act 2025

By institutionalizing accountability and empowering athletes as key stakeholders, the Act seeks to create a robust, transparent, and future-ready sports ecosystem aligned with global best practices.

In a landmark move to overhaul the governance of sports in India, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released three sets of draft rules under the recently enacted National Sports Governance Act, 2025. These draft rules — focusing on National Sports Bodies, the National Sports Board, and the National Sports Tribunal — aim to operationalize the Act’s provisions to promote transparency, accountability, and professionalism across the sports ecosystem.

Legislative Background: Towards Transparent and Ethical Sports Governance

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, marks a turning point in India’s sports administration. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on 11 August 2025, cleared by the Rajya Sabha on 12 August 2025, and received Presidential assent on 18 August 2025, as per Gazette Notification No. CG-DL-E-19082025-265482.

The Act provides a comprehensive framework for the governance, regulation, and promotion of sports, ensuring that India’s sporting institutions adhere to principles of ethical conduct, fair play, and athlete-centric decision-making. It aims to address long-standing challenges such as lack of transparency in sports bodies, arbitrary selections, disputes in sports federations, and absence of structured grievance redressal mechanisms.

By institutionalizing accountability and empowering athletes as key stakeholders, the Act seeks to create a robust, transparent, and future-ready sports ecosystem aligned with global best practices.

Draft Rules Released for Public Consultation

To implement the Act effectively, the Ministry has drafted three detailed rule sets that define governance mechanisms at various institutional levels. These drafts are now open for public and stakeholder feedback for 30 days from the date of publication, with the last date for submission being 14 November 2025.

The three draft rules are:

1. Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2025

2. Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2025

3. Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2025

Each set of rules is designed to operationalize different aspects of the Act, ensuring a seamless and transparent implementation process.

Strengthening Governance in Sports Bodies

The Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2025, lay the foundation for ethical and inclusive management of sports federations across the country. They specify:

• Inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM): Ensuring athletes have a voice in decision-making.

• Structure and Composition: Defining the composition of the General Body and Executive Committee of National Sports Bodies and Regional Sports Federations.

• Election Procedures and Disqualifications: Establishing transparent election mechanisms and clear criteria for disqualification to prevent conflicts of interest.

• National Sports Election Panel: Introducing an independent body to oversee fair elections within sports organizations.

• Registration and Affiliate Units: Setting procedures for registration, compliance monitoring, and periodic renewal of affiliated bodies with the National Sports Board.

This rule set seeks to democratize governance, professionalize management, and curb political interference in sports federations.

Defining the National Sports Board’s Structure and Mandate

The Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2025, detail the structure, roles, and responsibilities of the newly established National Sports Board (NSB). The Board will act as the central regulatory authority for sports governance in India.

Key features include:

• Constitution of the Search-cum-Selection Committee: For appointing the Chairperson and Members of the NSB through a transparent and merit-based process.

• Functions and Powers: Overseeing policy formulation, accreditation of sports bodies, compliance with governance standards, and financial transparency.

• Staffing and Administrative Framework: Recruitment and staffing to follow standard government procedures to ensure accountability.

• Provision for Relaxation: Allowing the Central Government to relax certain provisions when justified, ensuring administrative flexibility.

The NSB is expected to serve as a bridge between the Government, sports federations, and athletes — ensuring coherence in policy implementation and maintaining the integrity of sports institutions.

Establishing the National Sports Tribunal for Fair Adjudication

The Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2025, provide a detailed framework for the creation and functioning of the National Sports Tribunal (NST) — a specialized body for resolving sports-related disputes.

Key provisions include:

• Institutional Framework: Establishing the Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Technical Members with defined qualifications and tenure.

• Adjudicatory Powers: Empowering the Tribunal to resolve disputes involving selection controversies, disciplinary matters, ethics violations, and governance issues within sports bodies.

• Procedural Guidelines: Laying down rules for filing, hearing, and disposing of cases in a time-bound manner.

• Administrative and Service Conditions: Ensuring transparent appointment, remuneration, and functioning as per government norms.

The Tribunal aims to provide speedy, impartial, and specialized justice in sports disputes, replacing ad-hoc mechanisms that often delayed athlete relief.

Call for Public and Stakeholder Feedback

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has emphasized the importance of public participation in shaping the final rules. Feedback can be submitted within 30 days via:

• Email: rules-nsga2025@sports.gov.in

• Post: Director (Governance-I), Hall No. 103, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.

The draft rules are available for public viewing and comment at the following links:

• Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2025

• Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2025

• Draft National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2025

A Step Toward a Transparent and Athlete-Centric Sports System

The introduction of these draft rules represents a decisive reform in India’s sports administration. Together, they aim to ensure athlete welfare, transparency in governance, ethical conduct, and effective dispute resolution — aligning India’s sports governance model with global standards like those followed by the IOC and WADA.

With structured institutional mechanisms and enhanced accountability, the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, and its corresponding rules are poised to usher in a new era of professional and transparent sports management in India, making sportspersons the true center of the nation’s sporting vision.