Sheena Khan
October 30, 2024
On October 10, 2024, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (“Ministry”) published the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 (“draft Bill”) for public consultation. The draft Bill aims to drive Indian sports toward ethical, transparent, and globally aligned standards, enabling the development and welfare of athletes and sports federations alike. The Ministry has invited comments/suggestions (from general public and stakeholders) on the contents of the draft Bill by November 10, 2024.
The draft Bill proposes to establish a regulatory body called the ‘Sports Regulatory Board of India’ (“SRBI”), which will serve as the nodal authority for overseeing and regulating sports governance in India. SRBI will be the primary body for granting recognition to National Sports Federations (NSFs) and to ensure compliance with governance, ethical, and financial standards. The Draft Bill further prescribes simplified governance structures for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), and NSFs. In accordance with international standards and national interests, the governance framework restricts Executive Committees (ECs) to a maximum of 15 members.
Additionally, in order to uphold ethical standards, the draft Bill mandates the creation of Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions at the National Olympic Committee (NOC), National Paralympic Committee (NPC) and NSF levels which will encourage transparency and fairness in decision-making processes.
A notable feature of the draft Bill is the proposal to establish a dedicated Appellate Sports Tribunal, which will adjudicate all sports-related disputes in a timely manner, thereby lessening the burden on civil courts. This provision aims to reduce the reliance on traditional court systems, contributing to a more efficient dispute resolution mechanism.
The draft Bill further highlights India’s commitment to ethical sports practices by enforcing strict anti-doping compliance and ethical standards, aligning closely with the IOC’s Code of Ethics.
The draft Bill also seeks to promote inclusivity and gender representation by mandating that at least 30% of members in governing bodies are women. This gender representation aligns with global inclusivity standards, making India’s sports governance more equitable and progressive. Moreover, it introduces the Sports Election Panel, (a body of experienced electoral officers responsible for overseeing fair elections within the IOA, PCI, and NSFs) to ensure the integrity of the electoral processes. The draft Bill further restricts the usage of the Indian flag or national insignia solely to recognized sports bodies, with strict penalties for contraventions (which can lead to fine and punishment which can go up to one year or Rs 10 lakhs or both), thereby strengthening respect and accountability in the use of national symbols in sports.
