In the dominant transfer to sport management reform in India, the Union government presented the National Sports Administration Act 2025 in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill, as soon as it is adopted, is expected to replace the current National National Sport Development code in India (2011), which in the new era of transparency, liability and institutional supervision in the Indian Sports Administration stated in the new era of transparency, responsibility and institutional supervision.
While the 2011 sports code served as the main framework for good management of public affairs, he lacked legal support needed to promote critical reforms. The aim of the new bill is to fill this gap with several key deviations from the code, including the creation of legal authorities and revised standards for sports administrators.
Key differences: Sports code vs Bill
1. From the instructions to the law
The sports code was basically a set of executive instructions issued by the Ministry of Sport. On the other hand, a sports account is a formal legislation. After approval, it will carry legal power and will make standards in the area of administration of affairs by enforceable through legal mechanisms.
2. Age and relaxation of age and tenure
According to the sports code, the age limit for the wearers of the office was limited to 70 years. The new law allows those under the age of 70 at the time of nominations to complete their conditions. It also introduces five years of relaxation if it is allowed by the rules of the International Federation.
As far as tenure is concerned, the Code allowed the President to serve three conditions with a compulsory cooling period of two. The new bill makes it possible to allow three consecutive conditions for the president, secretary and treasurer.
3. Greater representation
The 2011 Code of 2011 had no compulsory provisions for sex or athletes. The bill requires at least four women and two athletes of outstanding merit in the Executive Committee of the National Sports Federations (NSF), which increases the inclusivity and voice of the athlete in decision -making.
4. Independent regulatory bodies
One of the most important changes is the establishment of three new statutory institutions:
- National Sports Council that will supervise the functioning and observance of the NSF
- National Sports Tribunal to handle disputes related to driving and athlete problems
- National Election Panel of Sports Election to secure fair and transparent elections in sports bodies
These bodies are designed to reduce the overhanging of ministers and address long -term questions of internal policy, poor management and inconsistencies of elections.
A long way to reform
The introduction of a bill has been the result of more than a decade of effort to clean up the Indian sports administration. The reform journey began in 2011, when the then Minister of Sport Ajay Maken presented the first bill on the National Sports Act, which faced a strong opposition within the political and sports facilities due to its strict age and tense cap.
Over the following years, several attempts to revise and introduce the law were carried out. This included:
- The proposal of 2013 published for public comments, which was not further monitored.
- The draft of the Code for Good Administration in Sport in 2017, prepared by the Sports Secretary of Injetivas, with members such as the Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra and international athletes Anju Bobby George and Prakash Padukone.
- Mukundakam Sharma, an expert committee of 2019, led by Mukundakam Sharma, who remained at Delhi High Court and remains inactive for continuing court proceedings.
In October 2024, the Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports issued a draft Act on National Sports Administration for public feedback. The government has received more than 700 answers from athletes, federations, legal experts, private sports bodies and international stakeholders, including IOC, FIFA, world athletics and international hockey federations.
The current Minister of Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, who supervised the process of the final consultation, recognized the contribution of Ajay Maken and said that the former Minister of Congress “did a good job in forming the National Sports Code of 2011.” Mandaviya noted that the new law is building on this foundation, but gives it stronger recovery mechanisms.
What comes next
After approval by parliament, the Code of 2011 Code of National Sports will be replaced and will create a comprehensive legal framework for sport management in India. The bill is expected to mention the law of the Indian Sports Administration in accordance with global proven procedures, similar to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Japan, all of which have formal sports laws.
Since India has appeared as a growing sports force on the global scene, the bill could mean a turning point in ensuring that the country’s athletes receive support, transparency and professionalism it deserves.
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Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
23 July 2025
