The Lok Sabha has passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 — a landmark reform aimed at ushering in stronger governance, greater transparency, and improved athlete welfare across the Indian sporting ecosystem. The Bill is being hailed by sports administrators, investors, and league promoters as a pivotal step toward professionalising sports in India and aligning its structures with global best practices.
For Amit Burman, Promoter of the Ultimate Kho Kho League, the Bill could be a game-changer for indigenous sports.
“The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, brings multiple progressive reforms — stronger governance, transparent operations, and enhanced athlete welfare — that can significantly boost confidence and investment in India’s sporting ecosystem. These measures create the right environment for indigenous sports to scale, attract new audiences, and deliver sustainable careers for athletes.
“At Ultimate Kho Kho, we have seen first-hand how professional structures, innovative fan engagement, and grassroots development can transform a traditional sport into a modern, commercially viable platform. We are committed to working within this progressive framework to help build, professionalise, and promote homegrown disciplines, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a global leader in sports innovation and excellence.”
Badminton Association of India’s General Secretary Sanjay Mishra called the Bill a “timely and progressive step” that sets India on course for the global stage.
“The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, is a timely and progressive step towards aligning India’s sporting framework with global best practices. Its focus on transparency, athlete welfare, and accountable governance not only strengthens our domestic ecosystem but also prepares us for the responsibilities and opportunities that come with hosting major international events in the future, including a potential Olympic Games bid. At BAI, we see this as a chance to work hand in hand with the Government, so that the Bill’s vision translates into tangible progress for athletes at every level and lead to glories in badminton.”
Punit Balan, Owner, Chairman & MD of the Punit Balan Group, emphasised the Bill’s potential to create a stable foundation for emerging sports.
“Strong governance is the backbone of any thriving sports culture, and the Sports Governance Bill lays the groundwork for that in India. By setting clear standards for how sports bodies are run, it can encourage more investment, create stable pathways for emerging talent in sports like table tennis, chess and others, and give every discipline from grassroots to the professional stage the structure it needs to grow sustainably.”
Sreeker Channapragada, Co-Founder of MGD1, the famous chess management firm, noted its significance for chess and India’s growing sports ambitions.
“The passing of the National Sports Governance Bill is a welcome and much-needed development for Indian sports as it’s a crucial step toward establishing transparency, accountability, and an athlete-centric approach that is essential for the sector’s overall growth and puts the sportsmen and women above all. We at MGD1 believe this Bill will further enhance India’s already strong chess culture, helping the country become a global leader in the sport. We fully support this initiative, which is a vital move toward positioning India as a global sports powerhouse.”
With the Bill now passed, the focus shifts to its implementation — a process that will determine whether these ambitious reforms can translate into lasting change for athletes, sports bodies, and fans across the country.
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