After Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha now passes National Sports Governance Bill

PT Usha calls the National Sports Governance Bill to be the ‘clarion call for action’

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, August 12, passed the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill 2025, marking an important overhaul in India’s sports administration.

The bills, already approved by the Lok Sabha, were introduced by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who called them “India’s biggest reform in sports since independence.”

In the discussion that lasted two hours in the Council of States, Mandaviya said, “In 20 countries, there is sports law. I request the Rajya Sabha to make India the 21st country with a sports law.” He also clamied that the “passage of these Bills will usher in a new era in the country’s sports sector”.

However, the bills came amid chaos, with Opposition leaders demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls.

As the issue was unrelated to the sports bills, Leader of the House JP Nadda pressed ahead with proceedings. This prompted the Opposition to stage a walkout in protest.

Also Read: Five major talking points from National Sports Governance Bill 2025

Meanwhile, the National Sports Governance Bill was welcomed by Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha, who recalled her past heartbreak of narrowly missing an Olympic medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

“Let me take you back to 1984 — I was just 20 when I missed an Olympic medal in Los Angeles. That day my heart broke… there was no comprehensive sports law to support the dreams we carried in our hearts,” she said.

“Since then, four decades passed and nothing was done to address the stagnant status quo. Today, hope has transformed into action and legislation. It is a visionary and long overdue bill,” she added, praising the new bill’s focus on transparency, accountability, and gender parity in the country in sports.

Usha also called it a “clarion call for action” as India eyes hosting the 2036 Olympics, saying, “For Bharat, it is not just a bill — it is about justice, fair play, and empowerment of athletes.”

Also Read: What is Anti-Doping Bill? All you need to know about latest govt initiative

The reforms include the establishment of a National Sports Tribunal to handle sports-related disputes and the creation of a National Sports Election Panel to oversee National Sports Federation polls.

Usha had initially opposed the National Sports Governance Bill in 2024, warning that it risked being seen as government interference, which could trigger a ban from the International Olympic Committee. However, after revisions and consultations with Minister Mandaviya, she has extended her unequivocal support.

“This bill is a critical pillar of a grand vision. Let us see it as a moral promise — that athletes will no longer be let down by an apathetic system. As someone who ran barefoot on clay tracks, I can say that this bill will change lives,” she said.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram