The National Sport Administration Act was presented in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, although it has been some time before it becomes an act, the introduction itself is a milestone to rework and standardize the Indian sports administration.
PTI looks at its main features that promise to rework several aspects of sport management and a system of compensation for athletes and administrators in the country.
Age and Cap of Labor:
The bill stipulates the threshold limit in three consecutive functions that have been adding up to 12 years for the posts of the President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer in the sports bodies. The age cap was maintained for 70 years and at the time of nomination it spread up to 75 years if it is allowed by international charter and laws of the sport.
The power of the Executive Sports Body Committee has been limited to 15 years to ensure that the financial burden of the Federation is not high. ES would be entrusted to have at least two athletes of excellent merit and four women in the ranks.
The provision is in accordance with international pressure to ensure gender parity in the administration of sport and make athletes an important part in the decision -making process.
National Sports Council:
The most spoken about the characteristics of the bill is the National Sports Board (NSB), which will have prevailing powers to grant or suspend all the National Sports Federations (NSF) and even “cooperate” with international federations for the well -being of athletes.
The NSB will consist of the chairman and its members will be appointed by the central government “between persons of abilities, integrity and position”.
Meetings would be done on the basis of search recommendations
The CUM selection Committee, which the secretary of the Cabinet or Secretary Sports as chairman would have.
Other members of this panel will be the CEO of the Indian Sports Office, two sports administrators who served each of them as a president or general secretary or treasurer of the national sports body and one major athlete who is Dronacharya or Khel Ratna or Arjuna Award.
The Board of Directors has been authorized to abolish the recognition of the national body, which cannot organize elections for its Executive Committee or commit “gross inconsistencies of electoral procedures”.
In addition, not publishing annual audited accounts or “abuse, incorrect or abused public funds” would also cause suspension of the NSB, but would have to be consulted with the global authority before continuing.
Only a recognized sports organization will be eligible for receiving grants or other financial assistance from the central government.
National Sport Tribunal:
According to the Ministry of Sport, more than 350 cases are currently underway for different countries of the country on questions from selection to election, which significantly holds the progress of athletes and NSF. The establishment of the National Sports Tribunal promises to end it forever because it would have “all the powers of the Civil Court”.
It will include the chairman and two other members. The head of the tribunal would be a judge of the Supreme Court or the main judge of the High Court.
The appointment would also be in the hands of the central government on the basis of the recommendations of the committee, which will be headed by the main judge of India or the judge of the Supreme Court of the recommended CJI and is the Sports Secretary and Secretary of the Ministry and Justice.
The central government will have the power to remove its members in the event of violations, including financial discrepancies and negotiations that are prejudices for “public interest”.
The orders of this tribunal would only be demanding in the Supreme Court, which will ensure that no lower court will participate in decision -making on sports disputes, which would be “jurisprudence stable and faster”.
The appeal will also have to file within 30 days of the decision of the Tribunal, but the Supreme Court will have the power to decide whether the administration can be carried out at the expiry of the deadline.
National Election Panel of Sports Election:
This will also be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of the National Sports Council. The panel will be made up of pensioners of the members of the Election Commission of the India or the State Election Commission or in retirement of the main voters of the states or representatives of election commissioners with “reasonable experience”.
The panel will act as “election officers” to supervise the behavior of free and righteous
Elections to Executive Committees and Committee for Sports Authorities of Sports Authorities.
The Board of Directors will maintain the list of national election elections that can be prescribed.
RTI:
All recognized sports organizations will be included in the 2005 Information Act “With regard to the performance of their functions, duties and powers”.
It will probably be the bone of the dispute between the Ministry and BCCI, which will have to sign up as a NSF with NSB after the cricket has become an Olympic sport that was debuted in 2028 format in T20 format.
The cricket council vehemently against this aspect of its functioning is not dependent on government funds. It is very unlikely that the BCCI will agree.
Govt’s discretionary powers:
Any sports organization that wants to use the word “India” or “Indian” or “National” or any national badges or symbols will have to obtain a certificate of objection from the central government.
The Central Government, if it considers “necessary and purposeful in the public interest, will also have the power to” release “any of the provisions specified in the bill.
In addition, the Government may also provide such instructions to the National Sports Council or other person or entity for the “effective administration” of the provisions of this Act.
The Government will also be entitled to “impose adequate restrictions on the participation of any national team of sport” in extraordinary circumstances and in the national interest.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
23 July 2025
