Sports Governance in India: Bodies, Acts and Policies

Sports governance in India operates through a layered system of constitutional provisions, central ministries, autonomous bodies, federations, and dispute-resolution institutions. For Prelims, the key focus is on who regulates what, which law applies, and how athlete representation, anti-doping, and recognition of federations are structured.

Constitutional and Legal Framework

Sports is primarily a state subject under Entry 33 of the State List (List II) in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. At the same time, the Union Government plays a major role in matters such as international sports relations, national teams, anti-doping compliance, and multi-state sports organizations.

• State jurisdiction: Entry 33 places sports, entertainment, and amusements under state control.
• Union role: The Central Government handles international sports relations, national representation, anti-doping mandates, and matters involving multi-state sports bodies.
• Earlier framework: Regulation was earlier guided mainly by the National Sports Development Code, 2011.
• New statutory regime: The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 replaced executive guidelines with a binding legal framework for national sports bodies.
• Presidential assent: The Act received assent on 18 August 2025.

National Sports Governance Act, 2025

The 2025 Act provides the statutory basis for governance of national sports organizations and standardizes their internal functioning. It seeks to improve accountability, athlete inclusion, and integrity in sports administration.

• Recognized bodies: It mandates one National Olympic Committee, one National Paralympic Committee, and one National Sports Federation (NSF) for each designated sport.
• Core committees: Every national sports body must have a General Body, Executive Committee, Ethics Committee, Athletes Committee, and Dispute Resolution Committee.
• Athlete representation: The 2026 rules require at least four Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in the General Body.
• Gender balance: At least 50% of SOM representation in the General Body must be women.
• Executive Committee quota: The rules also require at least four women in the Executive Committee.
• RTI coverage: National sports bodies receiving direct government financial aid come under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Anti-Doping Framework

India’s anti-doping system is anchored in statute and aligned with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code. The legal framework gives national agencies clearer powers for testing, investigations, and disciplinary action.

• National Anti-Doping Act, 2022: Provides statutory backing to anti-doping enforcement in sports.
• NADA powers: The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is empowered to conduct sample collection, testing, and disciplinary proceedings.
• National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports: Set up as an apex oversight body for anti-doping coordination and compliance.
• Compliance focus: The framework is designed to ensure uniform application of anti-doping rules across disciplines.

Major Administrative Bodies

Several institutions work together to manage policy, infrastructure, athlete support, and recognition of sports organizations.

• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS): The apex policy nodal ministry for sports; it frames policy, allocates central funding, and oversees international sports exchanges.
• Department of Sports: Handles infrastructure schemes, financial assistance to federations, and national sports awards.
• Sports Authority of India (SAI): An autonomous body set up in 1984 under MYAS.
• SAI role: Manages National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) and SAI Training Centres (STCs) for elite and junior athlete training.
• National Sports Board (NSB): Created under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 as a corporate body headquartered in New Delhi.
• NSB functions: Grants recognition to national sports organizations, frames safe sports policies, monitors ethics codes, and conducts inquiries into governance failures.

Federations, Elections and Dispute Resolution

Sports federations and election mechanisms are now placed within a more structured governance architecture. The law also creates dedicated forums for disputes that often arise in selection, recognition, and elections.

• Indian Olympic Association (IOA): Recognized as the National Olympic Committee for managing Indian contingents at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
• National Sports Federations (NSFs): Autonomous bodies that govern individual sports disciplines, conduct national championships, and select national squads.
• National Sports Tribunal (NST): A dedicated forum under the 2025 Act for selection disputes, governance deadlocks, and election appeals.
• Civil court powers: The Tribunal has powers equivalent to a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
• National Sports Election Panel: Maintains a permanent roster of independent election officers.
• Election role: These officers conduct elections for executive committees and athletes committees of national sports bodies.

Policy and Schemes

India’s sports policy framework aims to support participation, infrastructure, athlete development, and competitive excellence. The current policy and flagship schemes are central to sports planning and funding.

• Khelo Bharat Niti – 2025: The national sports policy that replaced the National Sports Policy, 2001.
• Policy thrust: Focuses on sports infrastructure, competitive leagues, and integration of sports science.
• Khelo India Scheme: Promotes mass participation, talent identification, and infrastructure creation.
• Coverage: The scheme supports youth, university, and winter games.
• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): Provides financial assistance to high-potential athletes preparing for Olympic and Paralympic events.
• TOPS support: Includes foreign exposure and monthly allowances.

Key Prelims Takeaways

• Constitutional location: Sports is covered under Entry 33 of the State List (List II).
• Statutory shift: The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 replaced the earlier executive code-based approach.
• Gender norms: The 2026 rules require 50% female representation among SOMs in the General Body.
• RTI angle: National sports bodies receiving direct government aid are covered under the RTI Act, 2005.
• Anti-doping law: The National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 gives statutory powers to NADA.
• Dispute forum: The National Sports Tribunal can hear selection and election disputes and has civil court-like powers.
• Policy current: Khelo Bharat Niti – 2025 is the present national sports policy.