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The provisions now in effect pertain to the establishment and governance framework of National Sports Bodies.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (PTI)
The National Sports Governance Act partially came into effect on Thursday, initiating the establishment of an all-powerful National Sports Board (NSB) and a Tribunal to handle sporting disputes, as notified by the central government.
The Act, described by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as the country’s most significant sporting reform, was originally notified on August 18 last year.
The provisions now in effect pertain to the establishment and governance framework of National Sports Bodies, including the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations (NSFs), and Regional Sports Federations.
“The provisions of sections 1 to 3, sub-sections (1), (2), and (4) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sub-section (5) of section 8, sub-section (1) of section 11, sections 14 and 15, sub-sections (1) to (7) and (10) of section 17, sections 30 and 31, and sections 33 to 38 of the said Act shall come into force,” stated a late-night press release from the Sports Ministry on Wednesday.
Following elections under the Act’s provisions, these bodies must have Executive Committees with no more than 15 members, including at least two Sportspersons of Merit (SOMs).
With the partial implementation, the constitution of the National Sports Board (NSB) and the National Sports Tribunal (NST) will commence.
The NSB will consist of a Chairperson and members appointed by the Central Government from “persons of ability, integrity, and standing who possess special knowledge or practical experience in public administration, sports governance, sports law, and other related fields.”
These appointments will be based on the recommendations of a search-cum-selection committee, which is yet to be finalised.
“The phased commencement of the Act aims to ensure a smooth transition to the statutory sports governance framework,” the ministry stated.
The ministry has already permitted NSFs with upcoming elections to postpone the process until December for the full-scale implementation of the Act. This means that the All India Football Federation elections will occur later in the year.
“With effect from 1st January, 2026, the institutional mechanisms envisaged under the notified provisions of the Act shall become operational,” it stated.
The proposed three-member NSB will have the authority to grant affiliation to NSFs, monitor their financial operations, and penalise them for any wrongdoing once the Act is fully operational. NSFs must obtain NSB affiliation to be eligible for government funding. The age cap for NSB members is set at 65, and all members can be reappointed for one more term subject to the age limit.
Members of the National Sports Tribunal will hold office for four years with an age cap of 67 years, according to the rules of implementation posted by the ministry for public feedback in October.
A National Sports Election Panel (NSEP) will also be established to manage NSF and other sports body elections.
The rules of implementation, made public by the ministry, outline a tiered criterion for athletes encouraged to take up administrative roles as per the Act’s provisions.
Interested athletes must be retired from their sport for at least one year before applying for an administrative position. Only those who have won an Olympic medal or participated in at least one Olympics are eligible for inclusion in the National Olympic Committee.
The criteria are slightly relaxed for federation inclusion, with a National Sports Award or medals in the World Championship of the relevant discipline being sufficient for entry.
Tier one athletes are those who have won at least a medal in the Olympics or Winter Olympics, while tier two includes applicants who have participated in two or more editions of the Olympic or Winter Olympic Games. There are 10 tiers in descending order of achievements in various sporting events.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
January 01, 2026, 12:47 IST
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