The Draft National Sports Governance Bill aims to enhance transparency and promote strong governance practices within National Sports Federations (NSFs).
Source: Hindustan Times
New Delhi: In a landmark step towards reshaping the future of Indian sports, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has unveiled the Sports Governance Bill, 2024, for public consultation.
The Government of India established the Department of Sports in 1982, coinciding with the IX Asian Games in New Delhi, to oversee and promote sports. In 1985, it became part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, and in 2000, 53 years after independence, it emerged as the separate Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.
Over the decades, the ministry has rolled out National Sports Policies, starting with the first in 1984, which aimed to raise sports standards. This policy was revised in 2001, focusing on expanding participation and achieving international success.
The Sports Governance Bill, 2024, has been introduced to elevate India’s global standing in sports. To ensure good governance within National Sports Federations (NSFs), the ministry issued guidelines in 1975, 1988, 1997, and 2001, which culminated in the National Sports Development Code, 2011, known as the “Sports Code.” This Code remains in effect, with its validity upheld by the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in W.P. No 2310/2012.
In 2013, the ministry presented a Draft National Sports Development Bill to formalize sports governance, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The Sports Governance Bill, 2024 now seeks to address this by promoting modern, flexible, and transparent sports administration during the ‘Amrit Kaal.’
While the 2013 Bill emphasized sports development, the Sports Governance Bill, 2024 focuses on institutional capacity and governance standards for NSFs, aligning with Olympic and Paralympic Charters. It clarifies that in the event of conflicts in interpretation, International Olympic and Paralympic Committee rules will prevail.
The Sports Governance Bill also proposes the establishment of a Sports Regulatory Board of India to oversee NSFs, ensuring compliance with governance standards, protecting athlete welfare, and shifting recognition and enforcement duties from the ministry to an independent body for more streamlined regulation.
This Bill is a crucial step in India’s journey towards achieving international sports excellence. The public consultation process allows stakeholders—athletes, administrators, and the general public—to shape the future of sports governance in India.
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