National Sports Governance Act, 2025
The Board may, either on its own motion, or in response to complaint received from any person or body on matters affecting the welfare of sportspersons or the development of sports in the country or misuse of public funds, conduct an inquiry where it is satisfied that there is a reasonable cause so to do:
Provided that no such complaint shall be entertained unless the complainant has exhausted all available remedies with the National Sports Body or its affiliate units:
Provided further that the Board may entertain such complaint if it is satisfied that accessing those remedies would result in unnecessary delay or unreasonable prejudice.
(1) The Board may, either on its own motion, or on the receipt of a complaint by an aggrieved party, by order, suspend or cancel the Board recognition of a sports organisation as a National Sports Body or registration of an affiliate unit of a National Sports Body, in any of the following circumstances, namely:--
(a) the international recognition of the concerned National Sports Body has been suspended or cancelled by the concerned International Sports Body;
(b) the concerned affiliate unit has been suspended or disaffiliated by the concerned National Sports Body;
(c) the National Sports Body has violated any of the provisions of this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, including eligibility criteria or terms and conditions of the Board recognition;
(d) the Registrar of Companies or the Registrar of Societies of the concerned sports organisation has reported gross irregularities in the internal functioning or removed the name of the National
(1) In the event of loss of the international recognition of a National Sports Body, the normalisation process shall be implemented as per the International Charters and Statutes and the Board shall not interfere in such process.
(2) In the absence of the normalisation process referred to in sub-section (1) on the loss of international recognition of a National Sports Body, or in the event of cancellation or suspension of Board recognition of a National Sports Body under section 10, where the loss of recognition concern--
(a) a National Olympic Committee or a National Paralympic Committee, the Board may constitute an ad hoc administrative body in consultation with the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee, as the case may be;
(b) a National Sports Federation, the Board may, in consultation with the concerned International Federation, wherever applicable, direct the National Olympic Committee to constitute an ad hoc administrat
(1) Every National Sports Body shall formulate a Code of Ethics for the members of its Executive Committee and other committees, employees, staff, sponsors, coaches, athletes, officials, members, affiliates and such other relevant persons, in accordance with the guidelines specified by the Board.
(2) The Code of Ethics shall establish minimum standards for the ethical and appropriate conduct of the persons specified in sub-section (1).
(3) The Code of Ethics shall be framed in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the International Sports Bodies and in consonance with the applicable laws in India.
(4) The Code of Ethics shall provide measures for protection of vulnerable persons against abuse by person in a position of trust, responsibility or authority.
Explanation.-- For the purposes of this sub-section, "person in a position of trust" means any person who exercises authority, control or influence over another person, or a person on whom another
(1) The Board shall frame a comprehensive Safe Sports Policy applicable to all activities, events, operations and proceedings conducted by the National Sports Bodies.
(2) The Safe Sports Policy shall include provisions to ensure the protection and safety of women and minor athletes and such other persons as may be prescribed.
(3) Every National Sports Body shall establish an internal grievance redressal mechanism to address the grievances raised by athletes, coaches and other individuals associated with such body, in a fair, timely and transparent manner.
(1) Only a recognised sports organisation shall be eligible to receive grants or any other financial assistance from the Central Government.
(2) A recognised sports organisation, receiving grants or any other financial assistance from the Central Government under sub-section (1) or from a State Government, shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (22 of 2005), with respect to utilisation of such grants or any other financial assistance.
A recognised sports organisation shall ensure that all its voting members and affiliate units, as applicable, complies with--
(a) the international Charters and statutes, as applicable, and shall exercise the rights, perform the duties and discharge the functions as specified therein; and
(b) the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder.
(1) The Central Government shall, on the recommendations of the Board, notify a National Sports Election Panel consisting of such number of persons as it may deem necessary, who are retired Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner or Deputy Election Commissioner or retired State Election Commissioner or Chief Electoral Officers of the States, with adequate experience of conduct of elections under the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (43 of 1951).
(2) The persons notified under sub-section (1) shall act as electoral officers to oversee the conduct of free and fair elections to the Executive Committees and the Athletes Committee of the National Sports Bodies.
(3) The Board shall maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) The fees and other allowances to be paid to the persons notified under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed.
(5) The National Sports Bodies may appoint an
(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, constitute a National Sports Tribunal consisting of a chairperson and two other members, to provide for the independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of sports related disputes.
(2) The chairperson shall be a person who is or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court.
(3) The members shall be persons of eminence in public life with wide knowledge and experience in sports, public administration and law.
(4) The chairperson and the other members of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendations of a Search-cum-Selection Committee consisting of the following members, namely:--
(a) the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court Judge recommended by the Chief Justice of India--chairperson;
(b) the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Law and Justice--member;
(c) the Secretary to the Government o
(1) The Central Government shall remove from office a chairperson or member of the Tribunal who--
(a) has been adjudged an insolvent;
(b) has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude;
(c) has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a member;
(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member; or
(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuation in office prejudicial to public interest:
Provided that where the chairperson or member is proposed to be removed on any ground specified in clauses (c) to (e), he shall be informed of the charges against him and given an opportunity of being heard in respect of those charges.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a member of the Tribunal shall not be removed from his office on the grounds specified therein unless the Chief Just
(1) The Central Government shall, in consultation with the Tribunal, appoint such officers and other employees as may be necessary for discharging the functions of the Tribunal.
(2) The officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence and control of the chairperson or any other member of the Tribunal to whom powers for exercising such superintendence and control are delegated by the chairperson.
(3) The qualifications, appointment, salary and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of officers and other employees of the Tribunal shall be such as may be prescribed.
The Tribunal shall not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the following matters, namely:--
(a) any dispute, or conflict arising during the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, or any other similar events organised by any International Federations;
(b) any dispute falling within the exclusive jurisdiction of--
(i) the internal disputes resolution committee of a National Sports Body; or
(ii) any other tribunal or court; or
(iii) any International Federation; or
(iv) the Court of Arbitration for Sports established in Lausanne, Switzerland;
(c) doping related disputes, where Disciplinary Panels constituted under the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 (15 of 2022) have exclusive jurisdiction;
(d) any matter in respect of which the International Charters and Statutes require the parties to submit to specific mechanism or forum for adjudication.
The members and other officers and employees of the Board or the Tribunal shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of clause (28) of section 2 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023).
(1) All cases under civil jurisdiction falling within the scope of this Act, in which the National Sports Bodies are impleaded as parties and are pending before a District Court or High Court immediately before the constitution of the Tribunal, shall be transferred to the Tribunal on and from such date as may be specified by the Central Government.
(2) The cases transferred to the Tribunal under sub-section (1) may be heard and adjudicated from the stage at which such dispute was pending in the concerned Court, or may be heard afresh if the Tribunal deems appropriate after recording the reasons therefor in writing.
No civil court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter on which the Tribunal is empowered under this Act to determine and no injunction shall be granted by any court or other authority in respect of any action taken or to be taken in pursuance of any power conferred on the Tribunal by or under this Act.
(1) The Tribunal shall have, for the purposes of discharging its functions under this Act, the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:--
(a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavits;
(d) calling for any public record or document or a copy of such record or document, from any office, subject to the provisions of sections 129 and 130 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (47 of 2023);
(e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents;
(f) reviewing its decisions;
(g) dismissing an application for default or deciding it, ex parte;
(h) setting aside any order of dismissal of any application for default or any order passed by it, ex parte; and
(i) any ot
(1) Unless the International Charters and Statutes provide for appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an appeal shall lie against any order of the Tribunal, not being an interlocutory order, to the Supreme Court.
(2) No appeal shall lie against any decision made by the Tribunal with the consent of the parties.
(3) Every appeal under this section shall be preferred within a period of thirty days from the date of the decision appealed against:
Provided that the Supreme Court may entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal in time.
(1) An order passed by the Tribunal under this Act shall be executable as a decree of a civil court, and for this purpose, the Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a civil court having local jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by that court.
(1) Any sports organisation desirous of using the word "India" or "India" or "National" or any national insignia or symbols in any language in its registered name, operating name, logo or otherwise in its affairs, shall obtain a no-objection certificate from the Central Government for such use:
Provided that a sports organisation other than a recognised sports organisation shall, in addition to the requirements under this sub-section, obtain written consent of the Board.
(2) No sports organisation shall use the name "India" or the name of any State or district in India, or conduct any sports trials, tournaments, or events upon the suspension or cancellation of its recognition by the Board under this Act.
(3) No person or group of persons, either individually or collectively, shall represent or be allowed to represent India or any state or district in India, in any sports trials, tournaments or events of designated sports without an authorisation by a National Sp
(1) There shall be constituted a Fund to be called the National Sports Board Fund and there shall be credited thereto--
(a) all grants, fees and charges received by the Board under this Act; and
(b) all sums received by the Board from such other sources as may be decided upon by the Central Government.
(2) The Fund constituted under sub-section (1) shall be applied for meeting--
(a) the salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and Members of the Board and the administrative expenses including the salaries and allowances payable to or in respect of officers and other employees of the Board; and
(b) all other expenses for meeting the objects and for the purposes authorised by this Act.
(1) The Board shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of india at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Board to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any other person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Board shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India generally has, in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and oth
(1) The Central Government in consonance with the International Charters and Statutes, may take such measures as may be prescribed, as it considers necessary for the promotion and development of sports, including in the public interest.
(2) The measures referred to in sub-section (1), may include,--
(a) the guiding principles for the conduct of elections by the National Sports Bodies, including model election rules;
(b) the promotion of the welfare and interests of sportspersons;
(c) the protection of the data and privacy of sportspersons; and
(d) the appropriate use of technology and analytics in the context of sport.
(1) The Central Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act:
Provided that the Central Government, while making rules under this section, shall take into consideration the International Charters and Statutes, with the objective of ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the management and administration of sports in India.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:--
(a) the relevant affiliations of Regional Sports Federation under sub-section (6) of section 3;
(b) the sportspersons of outstanding merit and other categories of persons under the proviso to clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 4;
(c) the mode of election to different bodies, committees and offices including their term, eligibility criteria and disqualification of members thereof, and other matters of governance
(1) The Board may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder, to carry out the provisions of this Act:
Provided that the Board, while making regulations under this section, shall comply with the International Charters and Statutes, with the objective of ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the management and administration of sports in India.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may make provision for--
(a) the manner of maintaining register of the National Sports Bodies and their respective affiliate units by the Board under clause (b) of section 6;
(b) the form, manner and particulars of application under sub-section (2) of section 8;
(c) other criteria and conditions to be complied by the sports organisations under clause (d) of sub-section (3) of section 8;
Every rule, regulation and every notification made or issued under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be, after it is made or issued, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule, regulation or notification or both Houses agree that the rule, regulation or notification should not be made or issued, the rule, regulation or notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule, regulation or notification.
(1) If the Central Government considers it necessary and expedient so to do in the public interest for the promotion of specific sport disciplines consistent with the spirit of good governance enshrined in the Olympic Charter, it may, in consultation with the Board and the concerned International Sports Body, by notification, direct that subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, and for such period as may be specified in the notification, all or any of the provisions of this Act or any rule or regulation made thereunder shall not apply to a National Sports Body or its affiliate unit specified therein.
(2) The Central Government may, by notification, and for reasons to be recorded in writing, relax the eligibility criteria for the members of the Executive Committee, if such person is serving in the executive committee or a similar body of a corresponding International Sports Body or is in the General Body of the International Olympic Committee or International Paral
(1) The Central Government may, from time to time, give such directions as it may think fit, to the Board or any other person or entity for the efficient administration of this Act.
(2) The Central Government may, by an order, impose reasonable restrictions on the participation of any national team of a concerned sport in international sports competitions or participation of any individual in the activities of the national sports, under extraordinary circumstances and in the interest of national security, public order and safety.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any Member of the Board or member of a National Sports Body or the Tribunal or any officer or other employee of such authorities or any other person or authority for anything which has been done or is intended to be done in good faith under this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder.
(1) The National Sports Bodies shall primarily be guided by the International Charters and Statutes in the governance of its affairs.
(2) In the event of any conflict between a provision of this Act and the International Charters and Statutes, the Central Government may, after consulting the Board and the concerned International Sports Body as may be deemed necessary, issue a clarificatory notification in this regard.
(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of this Act, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it to be necessary, for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of a period of five years from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.
(1) This Act may be called the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act, and any reference in any such provision to the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "ad hoc administrative body" means a body constituted for ad hoc administration under section 11;
(b) "affiliate unit" means the State, district or other units of,--
(i) the National Olympic Committee;
(ii) the National Paralympic Committee;
(iii) the National sports Federation; and
(iv) the Regional Sports Federation;
(c) "Athletes Committee", "Disputes Resolution Committee", "Ethics Committee" and "Executive Committee", by whatever name called, means the "Athletes Committee", "Disputes Resolution Committee", "Ethics Committee" and "Executive Committee", respectively, of a National Sports Body;
(d) "Board" means the National Sports Board established under sub-section (1) of section 5;
(e) "Board recognition" means recognition of a sports organisation by the Board under this Act;
(f) "bye-laws" means the memorandum of association or articles of association,
(1) The following bodies shall be established as the national sports governing bodies for their respective recognised sports organisations, namely:--
(a) the National Olympic Committee;
(b) the National Paralympic Committee;
(c) a National Sports Federation for each designated sport; and
(d) a Regional Sports Federation for each designated sport.
(2) There shall be only one National Olympic Committee and one National Paralympic Committee, each governing multi-sport disciplines.
(3) The National Olympic Committee shall have an international recognition and affiliation of the International Olympic Committee.
(4) The National Paralympic Committee shall have an international recognition and affiliation of the International Paralympic Committee.
(5) Every National Sports Federation shall have an international recognition and affiliation of the concerned international sports governing body:
Provided that this sub-section shall
(1) Every National Sports Body shall have,--
(a) a General Body, consisting of equal number of representatives from each of its affiliate units and such other ex officio members as per its bye-laws and the International Charters and Statutes, as applicable:
Provided that it shall have representation of such sportspersons of outstanding merit and such other categories of persons, as may be prescribed;
(b) an Executive Committee which shall consist of not more than fifteen members, of whom--
(i) at least two shall be sportspersons of outstanding merit;
(ii) two shall be from the Athletes Committee to be elected from amongst themselves; and
(iii) such number of ex officio and other members shall be nominated or elected, as the case may be, as per the International Charters and Statutes and the bye-laws:
Provided that at least four members shall be women:
Provided further that the voting rights of elected representatives of the Ath
(1) The Central Government may, by notification, establish a Board to be known as the National Sports Board, consisting of a Chairperson and such number of other Members as may be prescribed.
(2) The Chairperson and the Members referred to in sub-section (1) shall be appointed by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing who possesses special knowledge or practical experience in the field of public administration, sports governance, sports law and other related fields, on the recommendation of a search-cum-selection committee comprising of such number of persons, having wide experience in public administration, sports administration and recipients of national sports awards, as may be prescribed.
(3) The salary and allowances and the term of office of the Chairperson and other Members of the Board and other terms and conditions of their service, including removal from service, shall be such as may be prescribed.
(4) The Board
The Board shall exercise and perform the following powers and functions to carry out the provisions of this Act, namely:--
(a) the grant of Board recognition to sports organisations and registration of affiliate units and to suspend or cancel such recognition or registration;
(b) to maintain a register of the National Sports Bodies and each of their respective affiliate units in such manner as may be specified by regulations;
(c) to conduct inquiries on matters specified in section 9;
(d) to constitute an ad hoc administrative body or to direct the concerned National Sports Body or their affiliate units, as the case may be, to so constitute, as per section 11;
(e) to issue guidelines for formulation of the Code of Ethics by the National Sports Bodies;
(f) to frame Safe Sports Policy for the protection and safety of women, minor athletes and other classes of persons;
(g) maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel as per se
(1) The Central Government shall, in consultation with the Board, appoint such officers and other employees as may be necessary for discharging the functions of the Board.
(2) The officers and other employees of the Board shall discharge their functions under the general superintendence and control of the Chairperson or any other member of the Board to whom powers for exercising such superintendence and control are delegated by the Chairperson.
(3) The qualifications, appointment, salary and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the officers and other employees of the Board shall be such as may be prescribed.
(1) The Board shall have the power to grant Board recognition to any sports organisation as a National Sports Body.
(2) Any sports organisation desirous of obtaining Board recognition as a National Sports Body under this section shall apply to the Board in such form and manner and containing such particulars, as may be specified by regulations.
(3) No sports organisation shall be recognised under sub-section (1) unless such organisation,--
(a) is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or under the Societies Registration Act of a State; or
(b) is a not-for-profit company incorporated under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); or
(c) is a trust created under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882) or under the Trusts Act of a State; and
(d) complies with such other criteria and conditions as may be specified by regulations and having the sole object of the development of sports.
(4) Th
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