Why in the News?
- The Lok Sabha has passed the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025.
What’s in Today’s Article?
- National Sports Governance Bill (Introduction, Key Features, Future Outlook, etc.)
- National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill (Introduction, Key Features, Future Outlook, etc.)
Introduction
- The Lok Sabha has passed two landmark legislations, the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025, marking a major overhaul of India’s sports governance and anti-doping framework.
- Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya described the reforms as the “single biggest sports reform since independence”, underscoring their role in building a transparent, accountable, and high-performance sports ecosystem as India prepares to bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics.
About the National Sports Governance Bill 2025
- The National Sports Governance Bill seeks to transform India’s sports administration through the establishment of New Bodies:
- National Olympic Committee
- National Paralympic Committee
- National and Regional Sports Federations for designated sports
- Creation of the National Sports Board (NSB):
- The NSB will grant recognition to national sports bodies, register affiliated units, and monitor compliance. It will have power to de-recognise federations that fail to conduct fair elections, mismanage funds, or commit gross irregularities.
- National Sports Tribunal:
- A judicial body with civil court powers to resolve disputes involving selection, elections, or governance of federations. Tribunal decisions can only be challenged in the Supreme Court.
- Accountability and Transparency Measures:
- All recognised national sports bodies receiving government funding will fall under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, with some exceptions, such as the BCCI, which remains outside RTI unless substantially funded by the government.
- Leadership Provisions:
- Administrators aged between 70 and 75 can contest elections if permitted under international federation rules, a relaxation from the earlier age cap of 70 years.
About the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025
- Operational Independence for NADA: The National Anti-Doping Agency will function without direct government oversight to address WADA’s concerns over autonomy.
- Changes in the National Anti-Doping Board: The Board remains but without powers to oversee NADA or influence its operations, ensuring compliance with global anti-doping norms.
- Alignment with UNESCO Convention: Strengthens India's commitment to international anti-doping standards while protecting athlete rights and ensuring fair play.
Significance of the Reforms
- Olympics 2036 Preparation: The legislation is part of India’s roadmap to bid for the Summer Olympics, requiring compliance with the Olympic Charter and international best practices.
- Addressing Long-standing Gaps: Efforts to create a robust sports governance law date back to 1975, with multiple failed attempts due to political hurdles. This Bill finally delivers on decades of unfinished reforms.
- Promoting Gender Inclusion: Provisions ensure greater participation of women in sports federations and leadership roles.
- Enhancing Performance: By enforcing accountability and reducing political interference, the Bills aim to improve India’s performance in global sports events.
Future Outlook
- The reforms are expected to:
- Streamline governance in sports federations
- Build stronger anti-doping mechanisms
- Boost India’s medal prospects in international competitions
- Lay the institutional foundation for India’s Olympic bid
- However, successful implementation will depend on effective enforcement, autonomy for sports bodies, and sustained investment in athlete development.
