President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, officially turning it into law, according to a Gazette notification released on August 18, 2025. The Bill, which aims to overhaul India’s sports governance framework, will now be known as the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
The Lok Sabha passed the legislation on August 11, 2025, amidst opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and alleged electoral irregularities. Introduced by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya, the Bill was cleared with minimal debate. The following day, the Rajya Sabha approved it after a two-hour discussion.
A key feature of the Act is the establishment of a National Sports Board (NSB), tasked with supervising all sports federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which has long resisted being brought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The legislation clarifies that any recognised sports body receiving central or state funding will be deemed a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005, specifically regarding the use of those funds.
Another major reform relates to leadership eligibility in national sports federations. Instead of the earlier requirement of two terms in the Executive Committee, aspiring candidates for top posts will now need to have completed just one term. The change is intended to pave the way for younger administrators and athlete-representatives.
Under the new law, only those with “outstanding sporting achievements” or prior experience as a key office-bearer — President, Secretary General, or Treasurer — in either the National Sports Body or its affiliate units can contest for the federation’s top positions.
With insights from PTI
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