President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to The National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 on August 18, 2025, stated a Gazette notification by the Central Government. The Bill, which promises to revamp India’s sports administration, has now become an Act.

“The following Act of Parliament received the assent of the President on the 18th August, 2025 and is hereby published for general information — The National Sports Governance Act, 2025,” it stated.

On August 11, 2025, the Lok Sabha passed the National Sport Governance Bill, 2025 even as the Opposition continued their protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and the alleged vote fraud. The Bill was moved by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya and saw little discussion. A day later, the Rajya Sabha passed it following a discussion that lasted well over two hours.

The National Sports Governance Bill seeks to regulate the various sports administrators in India. The Bill mandates the creation of a National Sports Board (NSB) which will oversee all sports federations, including India’s richest sports body – the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The cricket board had been opposing coming under RTI as it is not dependent on government funding.

“A recognised sports organisation, receiving grants or any other financial assistance from the Central Government under sub-section (1) or from a State Government, shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005, with respect to utilisation of such grants or any other financial assistance,” the Act states.

In addition, aspirants for the top positions in national federations will be required to serve just one term in the Executive Committee, instead of the “overly restrictive” eligibility rule of two terms prescribed earlier, to encourage “younger administrators and athlete-leaders”.

“…a person shall not be qualified to contest for election or seek nomination to, the posts of the President or the Secretary General or the Treasurer, unless such person is a sportsperson of outstanding merit or, has previously served as a member for at least one full term in the Executive Committee of the National Sports Body or as the President, or the Secretary General or the Treasurer in its affiliate unit,” the Act states.

(With inputs from PTI)