Parliament has passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 with the approval of the Rajya Sabha.
The National Sports Governance Bill seeks to provide for recognition of national sports bodies and regulate their functioning. The Bill provides for the establishment of the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and National and Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport. The national bodies will have affiliation with respective international bodies. The bill provides that every national sports body will have a general body, consisting of an equal number of representatives from each affiliate member and certain ex-officio members. It will have an executive committee consisting of up to 15 members, with at least two outstanding sportspersons and four women. The Bill empowers the central government to establish a National Sports Board which will grant recognition to the national sports bodies and register their affiliate units. The Bill also provides for constituting a National Sports Tribunal to adjudicate sports related disputes.
The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the National Anti-Doping Act 2022. Doping is the consumption of certain prohibited substances by athletes to enhance performance. The Act gives effect to the UNESCO convention against doping in sports. It prohibits doping in sports, and provides a framework for testing, enforcement, and adjudication of violations. It establishes the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to implement anti-doping rules. It also establishes the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports to oversee activities of NADA and advise the central government on anti-doping regulations. The Bill empowers the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports to obtain any information from the Disciplinary Panel and the Appeal Panel regarding their operations. The Bill specifies a list of conduct or circumstances as anti-doping rule violations.
Replying to a discussion, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the government has brought this bill to bring transparency in the election of sports federations. He said the legislation will fulfil the dream of taking the country from ground to glory in the sports sector. He said, the government is working to create a robust sporting ecosystem with the focus on Khelo India and Fit India. He said, under the present government, allocations to the sports sector have increased to four thousand crore rupees which was only one thousand 200 crore rupees in the UPA government. Earlier, moving the bills, the Minister said, more than 350 court cases related to federation elections are currently sub-judice in the country. He stressed on the need to provide opportunities to every young person in the country to get opportunities in sports. The Minister said that today, 20 countries in the world have laws related to sports, but India does not have such a law.
Participating in the discussion, Ayodhya Rami Reddy of YSRCP said that these bills are much needed reforms for the country’s hard working sportsmen and athletes. He said these bills will bring in transparency. Praful Patel of NCP stressed on the need for the comprehensive legislation in the sports sector. He said, through these bills, sportsmen and sportswomen will get representation in the national sports federation. Mr Patel stressed the need to bring in law and regulations at par with the rest of the world. MP PT Usha said national sports Governance bill 2025, will usher in accountability, transparency and gender parity. She highlighted that it will also empower athletes and make governance athletic centric.
Intervening in the discussion, Minister of State for skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said that this bill will bring a new revolution in the field of sports. He said, through this bill, control and leadership in sports federations will be in the hands of players and former players. He also said that today the young players are getting opportunities through the Khelo India Scheme.
