Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) presented the draft Sport Management Act in Lok Sabha, which proposes to introduce a board of directors, which will have extensive powers to set rules and oversee the functioning of federations, including BCCi rich in cash.
Mr. Mandaviya introduced a bill that has a provision for the National Sports Council (NSB) to create a strict system of liability. All National Sports Federations (NSF) will have to be recognized by the NSB for access to the financing of the central government.
Another significant feature is the proposal of the National Sports Tribunal, which will have the powers of the Civic Court and decide with disputes from the selection to the election concerning federation and athletes. Once introduced, the tribunar decisions can only be questioned in the Supreme Court.
The bill carries out several concessions regarding the age ceiling of administrators by allowing those who are in parentheses of 70 to 75, to attack the elections if the international authorities and Byelaws are allowed. It is a departure from the National Sports Code, which limited the age limit to 70 years.
“… in the preparatory activities for the 2036 Summer Olympics offer, it is essential that the sports administrative environment to undergo a positive transformation to bring better results, sporting perfection and help in improved performance in the main international competitions,” read the announcement of the goals.
All recognized national sports bodies would also come under the Act on the Law on Information (RTI), which BCCI vehemently opposed because it does not depend on government financing.
“Now we have to study the bill and we will have to find out whether we have to place it in front of the Committee (Apex Council). We can only comment on it,” said Vice President BCCI and member Rajya Sabha Rajeev Shukl outside parliament.
“It is obvious that BCCI members will study the bill and provision and if they are submitted to any committee, they will study and then see what needs to be done. We will also have discussions with the government,” he added.
The Ministry insisted that BCCI, which is now part of the Olympic Movement after the cricket in the Los Angles list in 2028, will have to comply with the provisions of the law as soon as it becomes an act.
The NSB will include the chairman and its members will be appointed by the central government “between persons of abilities, integrity and position”.
The Board of Directors are expected to have “special knowledge or practical experience in public administration, sport administration, sports law and other related fields”.
The appointment would be made on the basis of the recommendations of the Search Section Committee, according to the draft law, which was completed after extensive consultations with the parties and public inputs.
The selection committee would consist of the Cabinet Minister or Secretary as Chairman, General Director of India, two sports administrators who each served as a president or general secretary or treasurer of the national sports body and one important athlete who is Dronacharya or Khel Ratna or Arjuna.
“… There is a feeling that comprehensive legislation is needed to improve the administration of sports authorities and achieve better results in sports and reduce disputes and litigation, including sports federations,” he said.
“It is necessary to reduce fractionism and administrative interventions that adversely affect organized development of sports and related activities in India and also for better presentation before the international sports community,” he added.
The NSB will have a mandate to abolish the recognition of the national authority, which cannot organize elections for its Executive Committee or have committed “gross inconsistencies in election procedures”.
Not publishing annual audited accounts or “misuse, incorrect or abused public funds” would also be responsible for the NSB action, but it would be necessary to consult with the global authorities concerned before taking.
The bill is also stipulated by the National Panel of Sports Elections consisting of former members of the Election Commission of the India or the State Election Commission or former main voters of the states or representatives of the election commissioner.
“(They) will act as election officers to supervise the behavior of free and fair elections in the executive committees and the committee for athletes of national sports bodies,” he said.
Mr. Mandaviya also introduced the National Anti-Doping (amendment) Bill-2025, which seeks to integrate the changes sought after by the world anti-doping agency (WADA), which raised objections to the “government intervention” in the functioning of the country’s anti-doping agency (Nada).
The law was originally passed in 2022, but its implementation had to be suspended because of the objections raised by WADA.
The world authority protested against the institution of the National Council for Anti -Doping in Sport, which was entitled to issue recommendations to the Government on anti -doping regulations.
The Council, which was to consist of the chairman and two members appointed by the central government, was also authorized to oversee the National Anti -Doping Agency (Nada) and even issue instructions to it.
WADA rejected this provision as a government intervention in an autonomous body.
In the amended bill, the Board of Directors has been maintained, but to supervise Nada or the advisory role that was previously assigned.
Published – 23 July 2025 06:38
