India’s National Sports Governance Bill, poised to become law after passing both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has been hailed as a transformative step for sports administration by National Sports Federations (NSFs) and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha on August 12, 2025. The legislation establishes a clear framework for transparency, accountability, and gender parity, aligning India with global leaders like the USA, UK, China, and Japan. With India eyeing the 2036 Olympics, the Bill is seen as a critical move to streamline governance and boost athlete welfare.

A cornerstone of the Bill is the establishment of a National Sports Tribunal, empowered to resolve disputes ranging from athlete selections to federation elections, with appeals only permitted in the Supreme Court. This provision aims to curb the hundreds of legal battles burdening NSFs and the IOA, which currently faces over 350 court cases. Leaders like All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey and Athletics Federation of India spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla emphasized that the Tribunal will save resources and prevent conflicting court rulings, fostering a unified governance model.

While the Bill has garnered widespread support, some concerns remain. All India Tennis Association’s Sunder Iyer noted that limiting Executive Committee seats to 15 may challenge representation in a diverse nation like India. Nevertheless, federations, including Hockey India and the Badminton Association of India, praised the Bill’s focus on dispute resolution and global alignment, seeing it as a foundation for India’s ambitions to host major international events. Effective implementation, however, will be key to realizing these reforms.

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