India, Jan 13 : The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, marking a significant milestone in India’s effort to bring transparency and structure to sports administration.
According to an official release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the rules provide a comprehensive framework governing the composition of General Bodies and Executive Committees, inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs), election procedures, and disqualification criteria for members of National Sports Bodies (NSBs) and Regional Sports Federations.
Key provisions and athlete representation
One of the notable provisions mandates the inclusion of at least four SOMs in the General Body of every NSB, with 50 per cent of them being women. Additionally, NSBs may reserve specific positions for women in their Executive Committees through their respective bye-laws.
A ten-tier classification system has been prescribed to select SOM representatives based on sporting achievements. Applicants must be at least 25 years old, retired from their sport, and not have competed at district, state, or national level for at least one year. The highest tier includes medal winners at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, or Winter Olympics, while the lowest tier covers medalists at the National Games or National Championships. The framework is designed to ensure diversity across sports disciplines.
Election procedures and disqualification norms
The rules outline detailed election procedures, including timelines for SOM applications, issuance of election notices, publication of final electoral rolls, and invitation of nominations.
Clear disqualification norms are established: individuals convicted by a court and sentenced to imprisonment are barred from membership or contesting elections to the Executive Committee or Athletes’ Committee.
The National Sports Election Panel must maintain at least 20 qualified members, and the fee for the Electoral Officer, selected from the panel, is capped at ₹5 lakh, with an additional mutually agreed fee for any assistant.
Implementation timeline
With the notification of these rules, all National Sports Bodies are required to amend their bye-laws within six months to align with the provisions of the Act. The rules aim to institutionalise transparent, inclusive, and accountable governance across India’s sports ecosystem.
The National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, mark a crucial step in India’s transition toward structured and professional sports governance, following the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.