With effect from January 1, 2026, institutional mechanisms of the act such as establishment of National Sports Bodies including National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations and Regional Sports Federations have come into effect.
Key Provisions of the National Sports Governance Act
- Institutional Architecture
- Establishment of National Sports Board (NSB): It has been designed as an apex regulatory body empowered to grant, renew, suspend, or cancel recognition of National Sports Bodies. Its other functions includes:-
- Maintenance of a register of National Sports Bodies.
- Collaboration with International Sports Bodies and National Sports Bodies
- Establishment of the National Sports Bodies (NSBs) for their respective recognised sports organisations:
- National Olympic Committee (NOC): Sole governing body for Olympic sports in India.
- National Paralympic Committee (NPC): Sole governing body for Paralympic sports.
- Other Bodies: National Sports Federation (NSF) & Regional Sports Federation (RSF)
- Establishment of National Sports Tribunal (NST): for the independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of sports related disputes.However, its jurisdiction does not includes:-
- any dispute, or conflict arising during the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games etc.
- doping related disputes, where National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 have exclusive jurisdiction
- National Sports Election Panel: A central roster of experienced former election officials to oversee fair and transparent elections in sports federations.
- Establishment of National Sports Board (NSB): It has been designed as an apex regulatory body empowered to grant, renew, suspend, or cancel recognition of National Sports Bodies. Its other functions includes:-
- Ethical and Safe Sports Framework: It calls for adoption of Code of Ethics and promotion of Safe Sports Policy (protect athletes, especially women and minors from harassment, abuse, and discrimination)
- Accountability and Transparency
- Public Authority (RTI): Recognized sports bodies to be treated as public authorities under the RTI Act, 2005.
- Financial Oversight: accounts of the Board shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India
