&w=3840&q=100)
Mandaviya namedrops Pakistan as National Sports Governance Bill puts restrictions on international participation: 'Safeguard for extraordinary circumstances'
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya expects the National Sports Governance Bill to be implemented in the next six months. PTI
The National Sports Governance Bill 2025 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday nearly three weeks after it was introduced in the Lower House of the Parliament, with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailing the landmark moment as the 'single biggest reform in Indian sports since independence'. The National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill (2025) was also passed by the Lok Sabha at the same time, and the two Sports Bills cleared the Rajya Sabha, the upper house, on the following day.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The implementation of a National Sports Board and a National Sports Tribunal as well as the BCCI's exemption from the RTI Act are among the key takeaways from the Bill, which is set to replace the existing National Sports Development Code of India that was introduced in 2011.
Another key provision in the Bill grants the government the ability to 'impose reasonable restrictions' under 'extraordinary circumstances' on the international participation of Indian teams and athletes. The provision appears to be aimed towards Pakistan, India's neighbour to the west that has largely shared hostile relations with New Delhi since the two nations gained independence in 1947.
While the sporting relations between the two nations has had its share of ups and downs over the years, it has undergone sharp decline since the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in 2008. More recently, the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April followed by a four-day military conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations has further hit Indo-Pak sporting ties.
'Act formalises the government's ability to act decisively and lawfully'
Mandaviya, however, insists that the provision in the NSG Bill does not target 'any particular country', and that it's a 'standard safeguard' against situations that cover national security threats, diplomatic boycotts and other exceptional circumstances.
'The provision empowering the government to stop international participation is a standard safeguard seen in sports laws globally, intended for use in extraordinary circumstances. It covers situations such as national security threats, diplomatic boycotts, or global emergencies, and is not directed against any particular country,' Mandaviya told PTI in his first interview since the two bills cleared both houses of the Parliament.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'In practice, decisions regarding sporting engagements with Pakistan have been shaped by broader government policy and security assessments, particularly after major incidents affecting bilateral relations,' he added.
The BCCI had refused to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year, forcing their games to be relocated to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Reuters
Mandaviya cited the example of Indian cricket teams refusing to tour Pakistan since the 26/11 attacks as a case in point.
'…full senior men's cricket tours to Pakistan have not taken place since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and high-profile matches have often been moved to neutral venues. Such decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs and security agencies.
'The Act formalises the government's ability to act decisively and lawfully in such situations, while ensuring that any decision remains consistent with India's commitments under the Olympic Charter and the statutes of relevant international sporting bodies.
'This reflects the Modi government's clarity in protecting national interest while upholding global sporting obligations,' Mandaviya added.
NSG Bill likely to be fully implemented in six months: Mandaviya
Mandaviya, who also serves as the Minister of Labour and Employment, added that the Bill is likely to achieve full implementation in the next six months.
'This bill will be implemented as soon as possible. Within the next six months, all procedures will be completed to ensure 100 percent implementation,' Mandaviya continued.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Creation of posts and other administrative approvals will follow established procedures of the Department of Personnel and Training and the Department of Expenditure.
'The aim is to ensure that both institutions (NSB and NST) are fully functional at the earliest possible date consistent with statutory and procedural requirements,' he added, while reiterating that the bill is 'the single biggest reform in sports since independence,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Limbo over envoy hits Indo-US progress
Washington has not yet narrowed down on a pick for the vacant post of US Ambassador to India, people familiar with the matter said, adding that naming an Ambassador to India remains a low priority at this time for the Trump administration. US Embassy in New Delhi(HT FILE PHOTO/Raj K Raj) Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Atul Keshap (who also had a stint as Chargé d'affaires of the US mission in India) and Indian-American venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani were two people initially thought to be in the running for the post of US Ambassador to New Delhi. However, the Trump Administration has not yet made any moves on the matter, the people added, asking not to be named. Even Trump's political allies in the House of Representatives and the Senate remain unaware of the Administration's pick. India and Australia are key US partners that are yet to see the appointment of a new Ambassador. During Trump's first term between 2017 and 2021, scores of key diplomatic positions were left unfilled. By mid-2018, well over a year into the Trump administration's term, 38 key Ambassadorial positions around the world were vacant. Kenneth Juster -- who served as US Ambassador to India for most of Trump's first term -- took office in November 2017, almost a year after Trump was sworn in as President. A similar situation faces the current Trump administration. S Paul Kapur, an academic who has been nominated to be the State Department's top official for South and Central Asia, has not yet been confirmed by the United States Senate. The National Security Council, which is based out of the White House and works closely with the President to shape US foreign policy , has also seen a major reduction in force under Trump. However, Trump's top adviser on India , Ricky Gill, remains in the NSC as Director for South and Central Asia. 'There seems to be a lack of India expertise in the Trump administration at present, which may be contributing to the tensions we're seeing between New Delhi and Washington,' said one former US official, on the condition of anonymity. The lack of an Ambassador in New Delhi who can act as a key interlocutor between the two nations has been keenly felt, the official added. Tensions between the two countries increased in May after US President Donald Trump claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad after a four-day military clash. India has forcefully denied Trump's version of events. Since then, the Trump administration's growing closeness to Pakistan has concerned India. Matters escalated over the last month as Trump placed a steep 50% tariff on India, including a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian energy. Trump also lambasted India as a 'dead economy' even as India has pointed out that even the United States maintains a robust trade relationship with Russia. ''On top of the Kashmir mediation and tariff issues, leaving the Ambassadorship in New Delhi empty for seven months sends exactly the wrong signal to one of America's most important partners. Since the Bush Administration and across party lines, India has been an increasingly central pillar for U.S. strategy in Asia, from countering China's influence to securing supply chains and deepening defense cooperation,' said Nicholas Shafer, a scholar studying US-India relations. 'While Ambassador (Eric) Garcetti took a while to get through confirmation, the rest of Biden's national security team maintained consistent and direct engagements with New Delhi that deepened trust and brought the closest it's ever been to Washington. Now, with uncertainty at the top of US foreign policymaking and without a confirmed ambassador even for nomination, Washington is handicapping itself in ways that just deepens the already profound skepticism in Delhi about American commitments and alignment with Indian interests,' Shafer added.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
"No agreements that would go against the farmers": Shivraj Singh Chouhan on US's demand amid tariff talks
Live Events New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday firmly stated that India will not enter into any agreements that could harm the interests of its farmers, emphasising the paramount importance of safeguarding their rights amidst ongoing trade talks with the US, especially regarding the tariff issues in the country's agricultural and dairy a gathering of farmers in the national capital, the Union Minister noted that there were global voices that had shown concern about India's rapid progress, especially in the context of trade agreements and acknowledged that while India seeks to maintain friendly relations and create fair trade agreements with countries across the world, the spirit of these agreements must be grounded in fairness and equality."In our country, the right of the farmer is paramount, and the right of the citizen is paramount. You know, there are many people in the world who are jealous of our progress. 'What if India makes great progress? Make an agreement with them.' We do make agreements because we see the world as one family. But the spirit of agreement is based on fairness, on equality," he highlighted the agreement made with the UK, where Indian agricultural products would be allowed to enter the UK without tariffs, benefiting Indian farmers . However, he was cautious about any potential trade deals that could jeopardise Indian agriculture."We made an agreement with the UK on equal terms so that the produce of our farmers can go to England without any tax. Many agricultural products will now reach England without tax. But if someone suggests an agreement that allows another country's goods to flood our markets, we cannot compete with them," he Union Minister pointed out the disparity in the scale of farming between India and many foreign countries, stating, "Their farms are massive--10,000, 15,000, or even 20,000 hectares--while our farmers often have just one or two acres, or maybe up to five acres, which is rare. There is no comparison."He also warned that an agreement that allows foreign agricultural products to flood Indian markets could severely harm domestic farmers, driving down prices and depriving them of fair returns."If such an agreement happens, it would kill Indian farmers. Cheap foreign produce will flood the market. If we sell our produce at lower prices, farmers will not get a fair return," he a strong reaffirmation of India's stance, Chouhan echoed the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , asserting that no agreement would be signed at the expense of Indian farmers."But PM Modi said there will be no agreements that would go against the farmers. Their rights will be paramount," he Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation on the 79th Independence Day, reaffirmed his support to protect farmers, saying that he is "standing tall like a wall against policies which are against farmer interest.""If any policy is against India's farmers, fishermen, cattle rearers, Modi is standing like a wall," PM Modi about standing his ground in the era of 'economic selfishness,' he added, "I say this with great experience. Kisi doosre ki lakeer chhoti karne ke liye, apni oorja hamein nahi khaphai. Hamein poori oorja ke saath hamari lakeer ko lamba karna hai. If we do that, the world will admit our strength."These remarks come during a time when India is actively involved in the discussions on the Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US, which the two sides could not conclude due to the American demand to get comprehensive access to the Indian agriculture and dairy US is pressuring India to open its agricultural market and subsequently imposing a 25 per cent additional tariff, with Washington calling it a 'penalty' for buying Russian oil. (ANI)
New Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Am I an Indian citizen?
It leads us a crucial question. Where does one find evidence about his Indian citizenship? The Register of Citizens (RoC) hasn't been revised since 2011 dues to bureaucratic wrangling. The RoC is perhaps the only credible document that is prepared after due diligence by millions of government officials after every decade. Now it's the ECI which has evolved its own mechanism of granting franchise to an Indian. It also means it has taken over the role of the RoC, because only an Indian citizen can participate in the elections. It wants 11 documents from any prospective voter to claim his right to vote. The ECI now wants birth certificate, matriculation certificate, domicile, marriage, parent's birth certificate etc. Surprisingly, none of the plastic or digital identities like Aadhaar, PAN, and its own photo identity card— the Electoral Photo Identity Card—are strong enough evidence. Why? No coherent justification is given. The ECI needs to be reminded that only 2.5 percent of Indians have passports. Just 14.71 percent have matriculation certificates. Birth certificates? Difficult to guess how many Indians possess it. The ECI's own data, presented in court, shows that most Indians lack these documents. Let's talk about Aadhaar. The government had spent a staggering `12,000 crore, or approximately $1.5 billion, by 2023 to build this 'unique identity' system. It was claimed it would be the key to everything—bank accounts, taxes, property transactions, even entry to sensitive establishments like airports. It's a biometric behemoth, capturing your fingerprints, iris scans, and personal history, linking you to your family, your address, your existence. It's mandatory for buying a car, renting a house, or filing taxes. Yet, when it comes to proving you're Indian, it's worthless. The ECI says it's not enough to get you on the voter list. The same government that pushed Aadhaar as the ultimate proof of existence now shrugs and says, 'Sorry, not for citizenship.' And the kicker? Aadhaar's vulnerabilities have been exposed time and again. Then there's the voter ID, the EPIC issued by the ECI. For decades, it's been your ticket to the ballot box, proof that you're part of India's democratic heartbeat. But now ECI finds its own voter's list tainted as it contains the names of those who have entered illegally. Illegal migrants, as defined by the Act, can't acquire citizenship through most routes. Why hasn't it clarified what makes a citizen? Why hasn't it created a single, secure ID that proves citizenship, like a Social Security Number in the US or a National Insurance Number in the UK? Instead, we're juggling Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, ration cards—none of which cuts it. Advocate Saurav Agrawal, commenting on the Bombay HC ruling, hit the nail on the head: 'Time has come for the executive and the judiciary to provide for a document of proof of citizenship. Surprising that the government fought so hard in the Supreme Court for sustaining Aadhaar, but now it transpires that Aadhaar has been rendered a mere paper, albeit at the cost of privacy rights.'
