The Lok Sabha has passed two critical pieces of legislation, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking what Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has called the “single biggest reform in Indian sports since independence.” The Bills were cleared by a voice vote on Monday amidst persistent protests from opposition members. The new laws are seen as a vital step in creating a more transparent, accountable, and world-class sports ecosystem as India prepares to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.
The National Sports Governance Bill is a landmark piece of legislation aimed at tackling persistent issues within sports administration. It creates a legal framework to ensure the transparent and fair functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs). A key provision is the establishment of a National Sports Board (NSB), which will be responsible for recognizing and regulating NSFs. The Bill also proposes a National Sports Tribunal with the powers of a civil court to resolve disputes related to athlete selection, elections, and governance. Significantly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be recognized as an NSF under this new framework, subject to the same governance standards, and will have to apply for annual recognition from the NSB. The bill also addresses the long-debated issues of age and tenure limits for officials, allowing individuals between 70 and 75 years to contest elections if permitted by their international sports bodies’ bylaws. All recognized NSFs will also come under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is designed to address concerns raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) over potential government interference in the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA). The original 2022 Act’s implementation was put on hold due to WADA’s objections regarding the National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports having the power to oversee NADA. The amended Bill rectifies this by explicitly asserting NADA’s operational independence. The changes align India’s anti-doping regulations with the WADA Code, a crucial step for boosting India’s credibility in international sporting forums.
Minister Mandaviya emphasized that these reforms are a fulfillment of a long-standing need to professionalize Indian sports. He stated that the new legislation will help improve India’s performance at major international events and build the robust infrastructure needed for a successful Olympic bid.
Key Highlights:
- The Lok Sabha has passed the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill to reform Indian sports administration and regulation.
- The National Sports Governance Bill introduces a new framework with a National Sports Board and a National Sports Tribunal to ensure transparency and accountability in sports federations, including the BCCI.
- The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill aims to align India’s anti-doping laws with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code by reinforcing the operational independence of NADA.
- The passage of these bills is being hailed as a major step towards professionalizing Indian sports and strengthening the country’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.