The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released the Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2025, which aims to enhance India’s sports ecosystem through transparency and athlete-centric policies. This move comes after years of stalled efforts to reform governance in sports organisations across the country.

The Bill aims to connect India’s sports governance with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, guaranteeing that the country is ready to host significant international events, like a potential bid for the 2036 Olympics. It proposes the formation of Athletes’ Committees in each National Sports Federation, the National Olympic Committee, and the National Paralympic Committee, providing athletes with an organised forum to express their concerns and participate in policymaking.

The Bill requires the inclusion of two athletes of outstanding ability on the Executive Committees of these entities, ensuring that crucial decisions reflect athlete perspectives. It also demands a minimum of four women on each Executive Committee, indicating a substantial shift towards gender representation in sports leadership.

To address long-standing legal problems in sports, the Bill proposes establishing a National Sports Tribunal to handle conflicts efficiently.