National Sports Governance Rules 2026, About, Purpose

The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

Need for Reforms 

• The need for reform arose because the earlier Sports Code was only an executive guideline, not a law. It had limited enforceability, leading to weak compliance by sports federations, frequent disputes over elections and selections, allegations of corruption, and prolonged litigation in courts. 
• Justice R.M. Lodha Committee (2015), appointed after governance issues in cricket administration, recommended structural reforms such as age and tenure limits, transparency norms, and separation of powers within sports bodies. 
• However, many of these recommendations were only partially implemented due to the absence of a strong statutory backing, which kept governance issues unresolved.
• Against this background, the National Sports Governance Act 2025 provides a legal foundation for enforceable sports governance norms and creates institutional mechanisms for regulation and dispute resolution.

About National Sports Governance Act, 2025

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 was assented to by the President on 18-08-2025. It replaces the decade-old Sports Code and establishes a legally binding framework for sports governance in India. The Act will come into force when notified by the Central Government.

• It establishes the National Sports Board (NSB) as the central authority for recognising and regulating sports federations. 
• The Act also creates the National Sports Tribunal (NST), which has powers equivalent to a civil court to resolve disputes related to selection, elections, and governance issues in sports bodies.
• It introduces reforms such as term limits, age caps, and mandatory athlete and gender representation in sports organisations. 
• It also mandates a Safe Sports Policy and internal grievance redressal systems to protect athletes, especially women and minors.
• To improve transparency, sports bodies receiving government grants are treated as public authorities under the RTI Act. 
• The Act also regulates the use of names like “India” or “National” and prohibits unauthorised representation of India in sports events.

To operationalise these provisions, the Government notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026.

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National Sports Governance Rules, 2026 Purpose 

The National Sports Governance Rules, 2026, framed under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, aim to create a modern, transparent, and efficient sports governance system in India.

• To promote and regulate sports governance in India by ensuring ethical conduct and fair play across sports bodies. 
• To align Indian sports administration with international standards, particularly the Olympic and Paralympic Charters.
• A key focus is on welfare measures for sportspersons and establishing structured mechanisms for grievance redressal and dispute resolution.

About National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 

The National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 provide for the composition of the Board, term of office of the Chairperson and Members, salary, allowances and other conditions of service, as well as the powers and functions of the Board.

About National Sports Board (NSB)

The National Sports Board is established as the central regulatory authority for sports governance. 

• Composition: It consists of a Chairperson and two Members appointed by the Central Government from a panel recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted under the 2026 Rules.
• Tenure and Service Conditions: The Chairperson and Members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier. 
  • They are eligible for re-appointment, subject to conditions prescribed under the rules. 
• Salary and Allowances: Salary, allowances, and service conditions of the chairperson and members are determined by the Central Government.

Functions of the National Sports Board

The NSB functions as the apex regulatory authority for recognising and monitoring National Sports Bodies. 

• It ensures compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards across federations.
• It maintains public records, including the list of affiliated units of national sports bodies and the National Sports Election Panel. These records are designated as public documents to enhance transparency.
• The Board is also empowered to issue guidelines, consult stakeholders such as athletes and federations, recommend international best practices, and organise workshops, seminars, and training programmes to improve sports governance standards.

Independence and Integrity Safeguards

To ensure impartial governance, the rules impose strict restrictions during tenure. 

• The Chairperson and Members cannot hold any position in international sports bodies, national sports bodies, or their affiliated units.
• They are also required to declare their assets, liabilities, and financial interests before entering office and annually thereafter, ensuring transparency and accountability.

About National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026

The National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 provide for the term of office of the Chairperson and Members of the Tribunal, their appointment and re-appointment process, salary and allowances, service conditions and powers of the Tribunal.

National Sports Tribunal (NST)

• The National Sports Tribunal will serve as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes in the country. 
• It is aimed at reducing reliance on civil courts and ensuring independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of disputes relating to sports governance and administration.
• The Tribunal is also expected to reduce multiplicity of litigation and provide a single-window mechanism for faster, simpler and more accessible resolution of sports disputes.

Digital and Techno-Legal Framework

The Rules also incorporate techno-legal measures for digital implementation, including notification of a dedicated portal by the Central Government for submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, as well as communication from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and maintenance of records related to proceedings and orders.