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National Sports Governance Act Comes Into Effect Partially 

Last updated on January 2nd, 2026 Posted on by NEXT IAS Current Affairs Team  14

Syllabus:GS2/Governance 

In News

National Sports Governance Act

  • It was originally notified in August 2025, allowing different provisions to be implemented on different dates. 
  • It is a landmark legislation aimed at restructuring the governance of sports bodies in India. 
  • It seeks to align Indian sports administration with global standards while prioritizing athlete welfare and transparency.

Features 

  • National Sports Governing Bodies: The Act provides for establishing:  National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and (National and Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport.
    •  The national bodies will have affiliation with respective international bodies.  
  • National Sports Board: The Act  empowers the central government to establish a National Sports Board (NSB).
    • NSB will grant recognition to the national sports bodies and register their affiliate units.  Only recognised bodies will be eligible to receive funds from the central government.
      •  The Board may suspend or cancel such recognition or registration, subject to specified conditions.   
  • National Sports Tribunal: The Act  provides for constituting a National Sports Tribunal to adjudicate sports related disputes.
    •  It will not have jurisdiction over specified disputes such as those in relation to games organised by international bodies and internal disputes of national sports bodies.
  • Oversight of elections: The central government will establish a national panel of electoral officers to oversee elections of national sports bodies.
    •  Every national sports body must also constitute an electoral panel to oversee elections of its affiliates.

Objectives

  • It aims to promote transparency, accountability, ethical practices and good governance in sports administration.
  • It will also ensure welfare of sportspersons, and provide effective and timely resolution of sports-related disputes, in consonance with the Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter and international best practices.
  • It will ensure representation of sportspersons in decision-making.
  • It will standardize governance structures across federations.
  • It will promote inclusivity and grassroots participation.

Concerns

  • Critics argue the National Sports Governance Act  may reduce independence of some  federations.
  • Transition to new structures may disrupt ongoing activities.
  • Concentration of powers in NSB could lead to bureaucratic delays.
  • Athlete representation is mandated but  concerns remain about tokenism rather than genuine empowerment.
  • Overlap between tribunal jurisdiction and existing arbitration mechanisms.

 Conclusion and Way Forward 

  • The National Sports Governance Act is a transformative step toward modernizing India’s sports administration. 
  • Its phased implementation balances change with continuity, and ongoing collaboration with federations and athletes is essential to strengthen governance while maintaining competitiveness and autonomy.

Source :TH

 
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