Sports minister introduces National Sports Bill for greater transparency in NSFs

In a landmark move to reform sports governance in India, the Union Government on Wednesday introduced the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. The bill, once enacted, is expected to replace the existing National Sports Development Code of India (2011), ushering in a new era of transparency, accountability and institutional oversight in Indian sports administration.

While the 2011 Sports Code served as a guiding framework for good governance, it lacked the legal backing needed to enforce critical reforms. The new bill aims to fill that gap with several key departures from the code, including the creation of statutory bodies and revised eligibility norms for sports administrators.

The Sports Code was essentially a set of executive guidelines issued by the Sports Ministry. In contrast, the Sports Bill is a formal piece of legislation. Once passed, it will carry legal authority and make governance norms enforceable through statutory mechanisms.