New Delhi: The National Sports Governance Bill, released by the government for public consultation, includes several provisions aimed at enhancing governance and transparency within the Indian Olympic Association and National Sports Federations (NSFs), Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Monday.
The bill proposes the creation of a Sports Regulatory Board of India, which will serve as a central authority responsible for granting recognition to federations and ensuring their adherence to governance, financial, and ethical standards. This board will have “flexibility and autonomy” in overseeing sports governance across the country. Another key aspect of the bill is the establishment of a dedicated appellate sports tribunal to handle sports-related disputes, streamlining the resolution process and reducing the dependency on courts for faster grievance redressal.
“There are so many litigations in the federations right now. Also, in some sports there are two to three federations who use the India name and seek recognition from the government. All such things impede governance. The Sports Regulatory Board of India will grant affiliation as per the eligibility criteria prescribed by the government under this bill,” said Mandaviya.
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The draft bill stipulates that only recognized sports bodies will be permitted to use the Indian flag or national names. Any violation of this rule could result in penalties, including fines up to ₹10 lakh, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
The minister also highlighted that a dedicated sports tribunal would be established to expedite the resolution of grievances and disputes. Additionally, sports federations will be required to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) Act, promoting greater transparency.
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