Prelims: Current events of national and international importance| Government policies and implementation.
Why in News?
Recently, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha.
Aim -To provide for the recognition of national sports bodies and regulate their functioning.
National Sports Governing Bodies - The Bill provides for establishing
National Olympic Committee,
National Paralympic Committee, and
National and Regional Sports Federations for each designated sport.
These bodies will have affiliation with respective international bodies and will have affiliate units at state and district levels.
Functions
Establish certain committees for their functioning,
Establish a code of ethics to govern conduct of persons such as members, affiliates, athletes, coaches, and sponsors, and
A grievance redressal mechanism for complaints from such persons.
Administrative structure of national bodies - Every national sports body will have a general body, consisting of 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 2 outstanding sportspersons and 4 women.
Eligibility for being a member in executive committee
The person must be aged between 25 years and 70 years, and
Must comply with international rules on age and term limits.
A person aged between 70 and 75 years may become a member if permitted by the international rules, and will serve for a full-term.
Every national body will have a President, a Secretary General, and a Treasurer.
National Sports Board- The Bill empowers the central government to establish a National Sports Board (NSB).
NSB will grant recognition to the national sports bodies and register their affiliate units.
NSB will consist of a chairperson, and a prescribed number of members.
Only recognized bodies will be eligible to receive funds from the central government.
The Board may suspend or cancel such recognition or registration, subject to specified conditions.
Other functions
Issuing guidelines on code of ethics and compliance with international rules,
Inquiring into matters affecting welfare of sportspersons, sports development, and misuse of funds, and
Creating ad-hoc administrative body in case of loss of international recognition of a national body.
National Sports Tribunal - To adjudicate sports related disputes.
It will not have jurisdiction over specified disputes such as those in relation to games organized by international bodies and internal disputes of national sports bodies.
Members -Chairperson - Sitting or former Judge of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of a High Court, and
2 members who are persons of eminence with experience in sports, public administration, and law.
Oversight of elections - The central government will establish a national panel of electoral officers to oversee elections of national sports bodies.
Powers of the central government - The central government may exempt a national body or its affiliates from any or all provisions of the Bill, if necessary, in public interest for promotion of that sport.
