The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, laying down a comprehensive statutory framework for the functioning, composition, and elections of National Sports Bodies (NSBs) and Regional Sports Federations. The notification marks a key milestone in India’s transition to a regulated and transparent sports governance regime following the enactment of the Act last year.
The Rules spell out detailed provisions covering the inclusion of sportspersons of outstanding merit, the structure of General Bodies and Executive Committees, election procedures, eligibility and disqualification criteria, and the functioning of the National Sports Election Panel.
Among the key mandates is the inclusion of at least four sportspersons of outstanding merit in the General Body of every National Sports Body, with women accounting for 50% of such athlete representatives.
To ensure gender representation at the decision-making level, the Rules also provide for a minimum of four women members in the Executive Committee, allowing NSBs to reserve specific posts for women through their bye-laws.
The framework introduces a tiered eligibility system for recognising sportspersons of outstanding merit, spanning 10 tiers—from Olympic and Paralympic medallists to National Games and National Championship medallists—while accounting for the diversity of sports disciplines.
Eligible applicants must be at least 25 years old, retired from active sport, and must not have participated in competitive events leading to district, state or national selection for at least one year prior to application.
The Rules further prescribe detailed election timelines, disqualification norms—including debarring individuals convicted by a court of law—and governance requirements such as maintaining a minimum 20-member National Sports Election Panel and capping electoral officer fees at ₹5 lakh.
National Sports Bodies have been given six months to amend their bye-laws in line with the new Rules, while the Central Government retains the power to grant temporary relaxations of up to 12 months on application. The notification is positioned as a foundational step towards strengthening accountability, athlete representation, and institutional integrity in Indian sports governance.
