India’s Sports Governance Ecosystem, Policy and Challenges

Explore India’s Sports Governance Ecosystem, focusing on policies, institutions, and reforms that ensure transparency, accountability, and growth in the nation’s sports sector.

Table of Contents

Context: The National Sports Governance Bill was recently passed by both Houses. It aims to address issues in sports governance and strengthen India’s sports ecosystem.

Current Sports Governance System in India

Policy Making

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS): Policy, funding, recognition of bodies.
Sports Authority of India (SAI): Executes government programmes, runs National Centres of Excellence, hosts camps, sports science & medicine support.
National Sports Development Code of India, 2011
- Governs recognition of National Sports Federations (NSFs).
- Prescribes tenure and age limits for officials.
- Lacks legal enforceability – functioning depends on voluntary compliance.

Sports Bodies & Organisations

National Sports Federations (NSFs): Each sport is governed by a federation that selects players, conducts tournaments, and represents India in international bodies. E.g.: BCCI (cricket), AIFF (football), WFI (wrestling).
Indian Olympic Association (IOA): Apex body for Olympic sports. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Integrity & Compliance

NADA/NDTL: Anti-doping agency & lab; WADA compliance.
Judicial Interventions: In many cases, courts had to appoint Committees of Administrators (CoA) (e.g., AIFF, BCCI, Hockey India) due to governance failures.

Challenges in the Current System

Structural problems

Political capture & patronage: Many NSFs turned into fiefdoms; age/tenure caps flouted; family/clique control common.
Democratic deficit: Athlete representation is tokenistic, women are under-represented, and major selections are opaque.
Legitimacy wars: Rival groups claim to be the ‘real’ federation; international bodies suspend India when interference/chaos persists (e.g., AIFF suspension 2022; WFI suspension 2023; AKFI suspension 2024)

Process & compliance gaps

Electoral Malpractices: Tenure limits are being violated, officials are overstaying beyond permissible terms, dubious electoral rolls, etc.
Financial opacity: Grants, sponsor money, ticketing, and rights income are not disclosed transparently.
Litigation spiral: Over 350 cases pending against various federations in different courts. Prolonged litigation stalls decision-making and hurts athletes’ careers.

Athlete-centric issues

Selections & trials: Last-minute notices, ad hoc criteria and limited right to appeal.
Safeguarding: Patchy mechanisms for sexual harassment, bullying, retaliation & lack of independent “safe sport” units.
Lack of Support systems: Uneven access to sports science, physio, nutrition, psychology; disability sport still struggles for parity.

International compliance risk

Autonomy vs oversight: IOC/International Federations demand autonomy; courts/government seek accountability. If autonomy and oversight are not balanced, it creates conflict.
- E.g.: IOC suspended the Indian Olympic Association in 2012 because of “government interference” in its functioning.
Doping risk: When sports bodies are fighting internal battles (court cases, leadership disputes, government probes), their focus shifts away from anti-doping measures. This can invite sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and harm the country’s global sporting image.

Need for a New System in Indian Sports Governance

Persistent misgovernance in national sports federations has weakened India’s standing in the international sports community.
Political monopolisation has hindered transparency and accountability.
Lack of a comprehensive law has left athletes vulnerable to arbitrary decision-making. (Presently, the government. Has enacted the National Sports Governance Act, 2025)
As India aspires to host the Commonwealth Games and Olympics, global standards of governance and integrity become essential.

Main Provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025

National Sports Board (NSB):
- A new central authority has been created to regulate and grant recognition to national sports federations and their state affiliates.
- Purpose: To end the problem of “rival federations” that often exist in parallel, both claiming legitimacy and confusing athletes. Recognition by NSB will be final and binding.
Creation of Apex Committees:
- National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) have been formally established under the law.
- All sports federations must align their rules and functioning with the Olympic Charter, Paralympic Charter, and other international codes of conduct.
Executive Committee Composition of Federations:
- Maximum 15 members in the executive committee to prevent oversized and politicised bodies.
- Mandatory inclusion of: At least 2 outstanding sportspersons (to ensure athlete voices in decision-making) & At least 4 women members (to improve gender diversity).
- Age and tenure limits were introduced (e.g., maximum age 70 years, maximum 3 terms of 4 years each) to break the cycle of political monopolisation.
Dispute Resolution through National Sports Tribunal:
- Establishment of a specialised tribunal to handle disputes between federations, athletes, and stakeholders.
- Appeals will go only to the Supreme Court, ending the current cycle of endless appeals in High Courts and multiple forums.
Electoral Reforms: Elections of national federations will be overseen by a national panel of independent electoral officers.
Athletes’ Rights and Welfare: Federations are legally bound to ensure:
- Transparent selection criteria.
- Proper grievance redressal mechanisms.
- Safeguards against harassment and exploitation.
Transparency and Accountability: Federations must publish annual audited accounts, balance sheets, and decisions on public platforms. They are classified as public authorities under the RTI Act, ensuring citizen oversight.

Way Forward

Athlete-Centric Governance: Ensure athletes’ voices are central in decision-making. Also, mandatory representation of women and players across federations.
Transparency & Accountability: Independent audits and compliance checks.
Grassroots to Elite Integration: Stronger pipeline from Khelo India → National Sports Federations → International Games.
Professionalisation of Sports Bodies: Hiring of trained administrators, managers, and legal experts alongside sportspersons.
Global Best Practices: Adopt models from countries with strong sports governance (e.g., UK Sport, US Olympic Committee).
Para-sport mainstreaming: Accessible venues, classification expertise, dedicated physio/nutrition/tech support; equal rewards and media coverage mandates.
Science & tech integration: Central Sports Science Cloud (injury logs, training loads, heat maps) with athlete consent; analytics to drive selection and load management.
Anti-doping education first: Mandatory e-learning for all national campers; nutrition/supplement guidance; zero-tolerance with proportionate & quick adjudication.

Steps India Needs to Take to Increase Medals and Performance

Strengthen Grassroots Development:
- India must identify talent early through school, district, and rural scouting programmes.
- Mandatory playgrounds, sports leagues in schools, and proper implementation of the NEP 2020 sports curriculum will ensure a steady talent pipeline.
Upgrade Infrastructure and Training Ecosystem:
- World-class facilities such as National Centres of Excellence and regional academies should be expanded across states.
- Sports science, biomechanics, nutrition, and injury management must become integral to athlete preparation, with training environments simulating Olympic conditions.
Ensure Athlete-Centric Governance:
- Selections should be transparent, with criteria published in advance and trials monitored publicly.
Provide Financial and Institutional Support:
- Schemes like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) should be expanded to cover more athletes with direct support for coaching, exposure, and recovery.
- CSR funds and private sponsorships can supplement government funding, while pensions and insurance will secure athletes’ future.
Invest in Coaching and Human Resources:
- Hiring experienced foreign coaches, while simultaneously training Indian coaches, is essential.
Diversify Medal Prospects and Exposure:
- India should invest in emerging sports like shooting, fencing, cycling, and gymnastics while sustaining strengths in wrestling, boxing, hockey, and athletics.
Build a Strong Sports Culture:
- India must move beyond an education-only mindset and recognise sports as a viable career.
- Role models like Neeraj Chopra and P.V. Sindhu should be celebrated, and awareness campaigns should be held to encourage families and schools to support children in pursuing sports.