National Sports Governance Act — Sports Governance, Rules, Anti-Doping & Indian Sports

When did the key institutional mechanisms of the National Sports Governance Act come into force?

They came into force from 1 January 2026.

What were the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 designed to enhance?

They were designed to enhance transparency, inclusivity and accountability in sports administration.

What is the National Sports Board?

The National Sports Board is the apex regulatory body for sports governance in India.

What are the main powers and functions of the National Sports Board?

It can grant, renew, suspend or cancel recognition of National Sports Bodies; maintain a Central Register of Recognised Sports Bodies; and coordinate with international sports bodies and domestic federations.

Why was the National Sports Board created?

It is designed to address politicisation, inadequate accountability, lack of transparency and governance problems in sports administration.

What is the composition of the National Sports Board?

The Board consists of a Chairperson and two other members, making three members in total.

What is the tenure of members of the National Sports Board?

Members have a term of three years or until they reach 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

What are National Sports Bodies under the sports-governance framework?

They include bodies such as the Indian Olympic Committee, which is the sole governing body for Olympic sports in India, the National Paralympic Committee for Paralympic sports, and other National Sports Federations and Regional Sports Federations.

What is the National Sports Tribunal?

The National Sports Tribunal is established for independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient resolution of sports-related disputes.

Who heads the National Sports Tribunal?

It is headed by a sitting or retired Supreme Court Judge or a Chief Justice of a High Court.

Who are the other members of the National Sports Tribunal?

The Tribunal has two other members who are experts in sports, public administration or law.

What disputes fall within the jurisdiction of the National Sports Tribunal?

Its jurisdiction includes election disputes, athlete-selection issues and sports-governance matters.

What is the appellate authority for decisions of the National Sports Tribunal?

The Supreme Court is the appellate authority.

Which disputes are excluded from the National Sports Tribunal's jurisdiction?

Disputes arising during major international sporting events such as the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, as well as doping-related disputes, are excluded.

What is the National Sports Board Search-cum-Selection Committee?

It is the committee responsible for selecting and appointing members of the National Sports Board.

Who chairs the National Sports Board Search-cum-Selection Committee?

The Cabinet Secretary chairs the Search-cum-Selection Committee.

Who are the other members of the National Sports Board Search-cum-Selection Committee?

It includes the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, one person with experience in sports administration and two recipients of National Sports Awards.

What is the National Sports Election Panel?

The National Sports Election Panel is the mechanism responsible for overseeing and conducting elections of National Sports Bodies.

What is the composition requirement of the National Sports Election Panel?

It must consist of at least 20 members at all times and is drawn from a Central Roster of experienced former election officials.

Why was the National Sports Election Panel introduced?

It is intended to ensure fair and transparent elections in sports federations and address long-standing issues of conflicts of interest and factionalism.

What are the basic governance requirements imposed on every National Sports Body under the 2026 Rules?

Every National Sports Body must have a General Body and an Executive Committee, with prescribed representation and governance requirements.

What is the composition requirement for the General Body of a National Sports Body?

The General Body must include at least 4 sports persons of outstanding merit who are at least 25 years old, and 50% of the Sports Persons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) must be women.

What is the women's representation requirement in the Executive Committee of a National Sports Body?

At least four women must be represented in the Executive Committee.

What is the disqualification criterion for holding office under the National Sports Governance Rules?

A person is disqualified from holding office if convicted by a court of law and sentenced to imprisonment.

What transparency requirement applies to recognised National Sports Bodies?

Recognised National Sports Bodies are deemed “Public Authorities” under the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Who audits the accounts of the National Sports Board?

The accounts of the National Sports Board are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG).

Which ministry is the nodal ministry for sports in India?

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is the nodal ministry for sports.

Who is identified in the chapter as the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports?

Mansukh Mandaviya is identified as the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports.

When was the Fit India Movement launched?

The Fit India Movement was launched in 2019 as a Government initiative encouraging mass participation in fitness activities.

When was the Khelo India initiative launched?

The Khelo India initiative was launched in 2017 for identification and development of athletes at grassroots and elite levels.

What is the Khelo India Youth Games?

The Khelo India Youth Games are a major initiative for identifying and developing sporting talent among young athletes at the grassroots and competitive levels.

Where and when were the 5th Khelo India Youth Games held according to the chapter?

The 5th Khelo India Youth Games were scheduled to be held in Bihar in 2025.

Where and when were the 5th Khelo India Winter Games held according to the chapter?

The 5th Khelo India Winter Games were scheduled to be held in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in 2025.

What does KIRTI stand for?

KIRTI stands for Khelo India Rising Talent Identification.

When was the KIRTI Programme launched and what age group does it target?

The KIRTI Programme was launched in 2024 and targets school children between 9 and 18 years of age for talent identification.

What is the National Sports Policy intended to achieve?

The National Sports Policy aims to enhance the quality of sports training, promote participation and increase the number of Indian athletes competing internationally.

When was the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) launched and what is its purpose?

TOPS was launched in 2014 to identify and support athletes with the potential to win Olympic medals, including financial assistance for training, coaching and participation in international competitions.

What is the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)?

The Mission Olympic Cell is a body within the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports that monitors and provides support for athletes' training and preparation under TOPS.

What is the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) and when was it established?

NADA was established in 2005 and operates under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports to implement doping-control programmes in India.

What is the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022?

The National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 is India's standalone anti-doping legislation and provides the legal framework for anti-doping compliance, including powers relating to search, seizure and disciplinary action.

What is the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport?

It is an international convention adopted in 2005 in Paris to combat doping in athletics and sport; the chapter notes participation by 191 countries, including India.

What is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)?

CAS is an international sports-dispute resolution institution established in 1984 to provide a fair and quick mechanism for resolving disputes in the sports world, with its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

What did the WADA 2023 report indicate about India?

The WADA 2023 report identified India as having the highest positivity rate for banned substances among major nations and ranked India second globally in doping cases among minors, after Russia.

What did the Athletics Integrity Unit report indicate about India?

The Athletics Integrity Unit ranked India second in doping offences in track and field, after Kenya.

How many medals did India win at the Paris Olympics according to the chapter?

India won six medals at the Paris Olympics—one silver and five bronze—placing India 71st in the medals tally.

What were the major Paris Olympics achievements of Manu Bhaker mentioned in the chapter?

Manu Bhaker won bronze in the women's 10m air pistol event and bronze in the mixed 10m air pistol event; she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in shooting and the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals in a single edition.

Who was Aman Sehrawat and what did he achieve at the 2024 Olympics?

Aman Sehrawat became the youngest Indian to win an individual Olympic medal by securing a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Who is D. Gukesh and what historic achievement is associated with him?

D. Gukesh became the world's youngest chess champion at 18 after defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship in Singapore; he became the second Indian Grandmaster to win the FIDE World Championship after Viswanathan Anand.

What did Praveen Kumar achieve at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?

Praveen Kumar won gold in the High Jump at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

When was the Indian Olympic Association established and who is identified as its president?

The Indian Olympic Association was established in 1927; the chapter identifies P.T. Usha as its President and New Delhi as its headquarters.

Which Olympic Games were cancelled because of World War I and World War II?

The Berlin Olympics scheduled for 1916 were cancelled due to World War I, while the Tokyo and Helsinki Olympics scheduled for 1940 and the London Olympics scheduled for 1944 were cancelled due to World War II.