Five major talking points from National Sports Governance Bill 2025

The bill lays down the formation of a National Sports Board (NSB) that will oversee the functioning of all federations, including BCCI.

The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 was introduced by Mansukh Mandaviya, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport and Labour and Employment, on July 23, Wednesday in Lok Sabha. For the year 2025-26, the government is seeking a more transparent approach for more effective functioning of the sports bodies as India eyes hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics and 2030 Commonwealth Games.

With that in consideration, the Sports Governance Bill is seeing major changes especially the way how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducts itself, with major changes set to be implemented in age-cap and election process among others. Additionally, the bill’s design strongly promotes a unified approach to sports governance.

We will now look at five major talking points from the National Sports Governance Bill 2025:

Key highlights from National Sports Governance Bill 2025

5) Unified approach for ethics and solving disputes

The Sports Governance Bill of 2025 adopts a more unified approach to ethics and dispute resolution. It proposes a ‘Unified Code of Ethics and safe sport policy for all bodies,’ which replaces the previous system where each National Sports Federation (NSF) had its own separate ethics and dispute resolution mechanisms.

In addition, the bill establishes a ‘National Sports Tribunal with broader powers and better structure.

4) Transparency through RTI Act for all recognized bodies

The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 now allows all recognized sports bodies, explicitly including the BCCI, the body which was previously not a part of the bill. Previously, in the 2024 year, its scope was only limited for the NOC (National Olympic Committee), NPC (National Paralympic Committee) and National Sports Federation (NSF) but with exceptions.

3) A defined number for female representation in Executive Commission

Earlier, in the 2024 Bill, there was a percentage of women (30) defined for the Executive Commission, with a maximum of 15 members in the committee. The new National Sports Governance Bill introduces a specific mandate for women’s representation in the Executive Committee, requiring at least four women in its ranks, with the same number of members in the committee.

Additionally, the committee will be mandated to include at least two sportspersons of outstanding merit.

Also Read: What is the National Sports Policy 2025? All you need to know

2) Shift from Sports Regulatory Board of India (SRBI) to National Sports Board (NSB)

The shift to a National Sports Board (NSB) has been made to ensure that there is a centralized body that oversees sports governance. The NSB will include a chairperson and members appointed by the central government. 

A search-cum-selection committee, whose members include the Director General of Sports Authority of India (SAI), two powerful sports administrators who have previously worked for a National Sports Body and a sportsperson who is also a Dronacharya or Khel Ratna or Arjuna awardee, will recommend the appointments for the NSB.

One of the major functions of the NSB will include being able to de-recognize a national body that doesn’t conduct regular elections for the Executive Committee or the key leaders of a board or has engaged in serious flaws in its election conduct.

1) Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) set for more accountability

Earlier, in the 2024 bill, the BCCI’s operations were kept under ‘ambiguous’ coverage, which implied that the governing body largely operated with a lot of independence. However, with the passing of the new Sports Governance Bill, the government now has the power to regulate which likely will affect elections procedure and eligibility for leadership roles among others.

The recently introduced Sports Governance Bill includes a 70-year age limit for office-bearers, which means the current BCCI President Roger Binny, having turned 70, will no longer be able to seek another term.

Besides this change, another important change is that the BCCI will now seek recognition annually, which was previously only a standard for other sports federations.

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