Lok Sabha passes sports bill; Mandaviya calls it single biggest reform in the field since independence

The longawaited National Sports Governance Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session 2025 on Monday Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has described the bill as the single biggest reform in Indian sports since independence amid Opposition continued to protest over revision of electoral rolls in Bihar reported PTIThe National AntiDoping Amendment Bill was also passed when the Lower House reassembled at 2 pm after an early adjournment owing to the protestsIt is the single biggest reform in sports since independence This bill will ensure accountability ensure justice best governance in sports federations Mandaviya said amid sloganeering by Opposition membersThe sports minister also claimed that once passed the law will have massive significance in Indias sports ecosystemldquoIt is unfortunate that such an important bill and reform does not have oppositions participation he addedThe Opposition leaders were not present in the House when the bills were introduced for consideration and passage as most of them were detained while marching towards the Election Commission headquarters against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged voter data fudging reported PTIHowever after two Members of Parliament MPs participated in the consideration debate speaking in the bills support the Opposition members returned to the house and started raising slogansAmid the ruckus the bills were passed by a voice vote following which the Lower House was adjourned till 4 pmEarlier Chairman of the parliamentary committee on sports Digvijaya Singh requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the National Sports Governance Bill to the panel reported PTI He felt that the bill should be examined and discussed before it is taken up by ParliamentMandaviya said the two bills were key reforms aimed at building a transparent accountable and worldclass sports ecosystem in India as the country aims to bid for the 2036 OlympicsEfforts have been made since 1975 and in 1985 we had the first draft But sports was also politicised for personal gains Some ministers made efforts to bring this bill but could not move forward In 2011 we had a National Sports Code Another effort was made to turn it into a bill It reached the cabinet there was a discussion as well but the bill was deferred after that It did not reach the Parliament the minister stated while presenting a timeline of the bills journeyThe National Sports Bill Governance Bill is a force of changeDespite being such a large country our performance at the Olympic Games and on the international stage has not been satisfactory and this Bill aims to build Indias sports capacity he addedThe bill has provisions for a National Sports Board NSB to create a stringent system of accountability All National Sports Federations NSFs will have to attain NSBs recognition for access to Central government fundingFurther the law will have the mandate to derecognise a national body that fails to hold elections for its executive committee or has committed gross irregularities in the election proceduresFailure to publish annual audited accounts or misused misapplied or misappropriated public funds would also be liable for action by the NSB but it would be required to consult the global body concerned before making its moveAnother feature is the proposal for a National Sports Tribunal which will have the powers of a civil court and decide disputes ranging from selection to election involving federations and athletes Once instituted the decision of the tribunal can only be challenged in the Supreme CourtThe bill also makes some concessions on the issue of age cap for administrators by allowing those in the bracket of 70 to 75 to contest elections if the international bodies statutes concerned and bylaws allow for it It is a departure from the national sports code that capped the age limit at 70as a part of the preparatory activities for the bidding of Summer Olympic Games 2036 it is imperative that the sports governance landscape undergo a positive transformation to bring better outcomes sporting excellence and aids in improved performance in major international competitions read the bills statement of objectivesAll recognised national sports bodies would also come under the ambit of the Right to Information RTI Act something that the BCCI has vehemently opposed since it is not dependent on government fundingHowever the cricket board has got some leeway on that front with the government amending the bill to ensure that RTI would be applicable only on bodies that rely on government funding or supportThe National AntiDoping Amendment Bill2025 that seeks to incorporate the changes sought by the World AntiDoping Agency WADA which objected to government interference in the functioning of the countrys AntiDoping Agency NADAThe law was originally passed in 2022 but its implementation had to be put on hold due to objections raised by WADAThe world body objected to the institution of a National Board for AntiDoping in Sports which was empowered to make recommendations to the government on antidoping regulationsThe Board which was to comprise a chairperson and two members appointed by the central government was also authorised to oversee the National AntiDoping Agency NADA and even issue directions to itWADA rejected this provision as government interference in an autonomous body In the amended bill the Board has been retained but without the powers to oversee NADA or the advisory role it was previously assigned The amended bill asserts NADAs operational independenceWith PTI inputs