Latest news with #MansukhMandaviya


News18
12 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Sports Minister to commemorate Kargil War anniversary with padyatra in Drass
Agency: New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will lead a 'padyatra' featuring over 1,000 youth volunteers, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of fallen soldiers, and civil society members in Drass on Saturday to commemorate the 26th anniversary of India's victory in the 1999 Kargil War. Mandaviya will also be joined by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth in the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra' being organised by MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat). 'Led by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the padyatra will also witness the participation of alongside over 1,000 youth, veterans, armed forces personnel, families of martyrs, and civil society members," stated a press release from the ministry of youth affairs and sports. 'The Padyatra, covering a distance of 1.5 kilometers, will commence at 7am from the grounds of Himabass Public High School, Drass, and will conclude at the grounds of Government Higher Secondary School, Bhimbet," it added. The two ministers, accompanied by 100 youth volunteers, will then proceed to the Kargil War Memorial to lay wreaths and offer homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1999 conflict with Pakistan. Mandaviya will also felicitate 26 women bikers of the Shakti Udgosh Foundation, who will arrive at the war memorial after completing a long-distance motorbike rally undertaken as a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives. The padyatra will also feature a plantation drive under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign. PTI PM PM PDS PDS view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 11:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
National Sports Governance Bill: Key features, what changes for bodies like BCCI
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday introduced the National Sports Governance Bill in Lok Sabha. The Bill proposes two major changes to the way sport is governed in the country. The first is the formation of a National Sports Board, which will have sweeping powers to lay down rules and oversee the functioning of federations, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The second is the constitution of a National Sports Tribunal, which will have the powers of a civil court. The tribunal will decide disputes ranging from selection to election involving federatios and athletes. Aggrieved athletes and administrators will no longer be able to approach the lower or high courts. The tribunal, instead, will be their first port of redressal. And its decisions can only be challenged in the Supreme Court. In an interview with The Indian Express, eminent sports lawyer Nandan Kamath breaks down the key aspects of the Bill, explains its significance and underlines the aspects that may need some caution. Excerpts: Why do you think a Bill like this was needed and what is its significance? If you look back, the 2007 Draft Comprehensive National Sports Policy mentions the need for a sports regulator for India. The Bill now proposes a National Sports Board along these lines—a Sebi-type body to establish a unified national structure for sport. Many of the provisions and structures in the Bill owe their origin to the National Sports Development Bills drafted – but not passed – in the early part of the last decade. You can draw a straight line from these to significant portions of the Bill. With a National Sports Board, the regulatory capacity of the government in sports will increase. The institution will get a budget and can hire specialised staff with legal and auditing expertise, for instance, to evaluate how the 56 NSFs [National Sports Federations] and their affiliates are being run. I believe this is a significant step forward. About judicial intervention… In the absence of legislation, the Sports Code of 2011 has been the administrative instrument in place that established standards for the government's recognition of National Sports Federations. Without statutory backing and regulatory institutions in place this was always going to be a stopgap measure at best, and its implementation history has indeed been chequered. This regulatory failure led to extensive judicial intervention in the affairs of sports bodies, especially with many federations being obviously run quite poorly. However, many court cases have remained unresolved for years, other judgments have been walked back on by the courts themselves. There are numerous federations being run by ad-hoc bodies and almost every federation election is now challenged in court. I don't think this is sustainable. The end goal of judicial intervention is public interest. While cleaning the stables is a means, the desired end must always be healthier sports institutions. But now, we are presuming that the tribunal will stay independent and free of conflicts. You are right, many will say 'oh, not one more tribunal', when many of our tribunals have not been successful in India. While this is a first for India, standalone dispute resolution chambers and tribunals is the model that sport follows globally. Having time-bound procedures and sports-aware people in dispute resolution is preferable so as to keep sport healthy and moving forward. Of course, any tribunal will need well-qualified, independent-minded members. Is there a similar concern for the National Sports Board, where the presumption is that the right people will be heading it? The powers proposed to be vested in the Board have always been there with the Sports Ministry. I believe that having the Board as a statutory public institution with a defined role and obligations will increase public scrutiny and transparency over how these powers are exercised. On matters relating to how decisions relating to sports bodies are made, who is making them and the reasoning for them, there is no judge more powerful than public opinion. As the saying goes, sunlight is often the best disinfectant. For instance, if there is an allegation over the conflict of interest of a member of the Board, this will play out like it did in the Sebi Chairperson's case recently. The other type of public transparency is through information about sports bodies. Right now, it is not easy to identify the appropriate district sports federation for a particular sport that governs the entry point to sport for all of us. For someone who wants to play the sport competitively, for someone who would like to hold an event or sponsor or partner, there is often nowhere to go to determine which body to deal with. The Bill proposes that the Board will register all the affiliated units of the NSFs. This first step of 'governance through information' by the Board can then lead to 'governance through standard-setting' (like Sebi does with listing standards) and 'governance through framework alignment' whereby the system comes together to work in unison. There are concessions made to administrators over the age cap and tenure. What is the logic behind increasing the age limit to 75 and doing away with the tenure issue? The logic I have seen professed is that various concessions are needed to enable more Indian administrators to be represented on, and in leadership positions within, international sports bodies. It has been suggested that it takes time and experience to first understand the game of administration locally and then establish oneself in the international fora. Of course, such perceived benefits must be balanced with the obvious risks of entrenchment and institutional capture and it is important to tread carefully. I don't know what the government's formal stance is on this, but I did see reports that the intent is for the BCCI to also come under the ambit of the law. There is no exception really for the BCCI, though it has never been recognised as an NSF thus far. If the BCCI is also covered, its constitution will have to be brought in line with this legislation. One of the material changes there will be with the existing age and tenure clauses. The BCCI constitution has a maximum of three terms of three years each in the BCCI or a state association after which an office bearer cannot be elected again. Another question is whether the BCCI becomes an Indian Olympic Association (IOA) member given the inclusion of the sport in the forthcoming Olympics? Does the Bill disenfranchise the athletes of their right to go to the courts? According to the Bill, the first port of call for disputes is the internal dispute resolution chamber and then the tribunal in an appeal. As mentioned earlier, this is in line with international sports dispute resolution structures. For instance, in the FIFA system, all participants from players to clubs are barred from approaching the ordinary courts in any country. You have to use the FIFA or member association dispute resolution chambers, and appeals lie only to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). A mature sports dispute resolution process is deliberately intended to be separate from the court structure. Keeping dispute resolution accessible, financially viable and fair to athletes will be a critical aspect of good governance.


India.com
a day ago
- Health
- India.com
CGHS Update For Govt Employees: Rate Revision For Health Services On The Cards? Check Reports
photoDetails english 2936156 Updated:Jul 24, 2025, 01:16 PM IST CGHS Beneficiaries Likely To Hear Good News Soon 1 / 7 CGHS beneficiaries have good news! The central government is reportedly considering pricing revisions under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to enhance health services for government employees and pensioners covered by the program. This move will benefit millions of beneficiaries covered under the scheme. Revision Of CGHS Rates Soon 2 / 7 Union minister for labour and employment Dr Mansukh Mandaviya recently assured that the central government plans to revise CGHS rates soon. The revision aims to improve the quality of healthcare services provided under the program. The minister's assurance about a possible revision in CGHS rates assumes great significance for central government employees and pensioners. There has been a long-standing request from different parties to upgrade CGHS facilities. NC JCM Demands Implementation Of CGHS Facilities 3 / 7 The Staff Side of the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery (NC JCM), which represents millions of central government staff, had earlier this year urged the government to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petitions regarding CGHS facilities to the central government employees, pensioners and their dependents. NC JCM Urges Government For CGHS Rates Revision 4 / 7 Ahead of the union budget this year in February, the NC JCM urged the finance minister to address important concerns of government staff related to CGHS. The staff side made several appeals to the government, including the revision of CGHS rates, enhancement of treatment procedures and settlement of issues related to excess amount charges from beneficiaries, among others. Govt Last Year Revised CGHS Rates 5 / 7 The government revised the CGHS rates in February last year. The updated charges apply to central government employees and their family members. The CGHS facilities are available in around 80 Indian cities. Therefore, all the CGHS cities are subject to the revised rates. With CGHS Rates Revision, Central Staff To Get Better Medical Care 6 / 7 The central employees and pensioners have continuously demanded that the CGHS rates be made in line with private hospitals. Due to very low CGHS rates, receiving treatment or surgery is challenging, especially in metropolitan cities and large private hospitals. Despite the CGHS rate revision in February, the discrepancy exists. The latest statement of the union minister regarding rate revision assures that this inequality will be removed soon. The rate revision will also ensure that central government employees and pensioners get better medical care. Who Is Eligible For CGHS Facilities? 7 / 7 The CGHS is a healthcare facility scheme for central government employees and pensioners. All the central government employees paid from the central civil estimates (except railways and Delhi administration), including their families, are eligible to receive benefits under CGHS. All the pensioners of the central government (except Railways and the Armed Forces) and their families are also eligible for CGHS.


Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Mandaviya introduces Sports Governance Bill for greater transparency
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday introduced the National Sports Governance Bill in Lok Sabha that proposes to institute a Board which will have sweeping powers to lay down rules and oversee the functioning of federations, including the cash-rich BCCI. Mandaviya introduced the bill that has provisions for a National Sports Board (NSB) to create a stringent system of accountability. All National Sports Federations (NSFs) will have to attain NSB's recognition for access to central government funding. Another striking feature is the proposal for a National Sports Tribunal, which will have the powers of a civil court and decide disputes ranging from selection to election involving federations and athletes. Once instituted, Tribunal's decisions can only be challenged in the Supreme Court. The bill makes some concessions on the issue of age cap for administrators by allowing those in the bracket of 70 to 75 to contest elections if the concerned international bodies' statutes and byelaws allow for it. It is a departure from the national sports code that capped the age limit at 70. '...as a part of the preparatory activities for the bidding of Summer Olympic Games 2036, it is imperative that the sports governance landscape undergoes a positive transformation to bring better outcomes, sporting excellence and aids in improved performance in major international competitions,' read the bill's statement of objectives. All recognised national sports bodies would also come under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, something that the BCCI has vehemently opposed since it is not dependent on government funding. 'Now we have to study the bill and we will have to see if we need to place it before the Committee (Apex Council). We can only comment after that,' BCCI vice President and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla said outside the Parliament. 'Obviously BCCI members will study the bill and its clauses and if put forth to any committee, they will study and then we will see what needs to be done. We will also have discussions with the government,' he added. The ministry has insisted that the BCCI, which is now a part of the Olympic movement following cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angles Games roster, will have to comply with the provisions of the bill once it becomes an act. The NSB will comprise a chairperson and its members will be appointed by the central government from 'amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing.' The Board's constituents will also be expected to possess 'special knowledge or practical experience in the field of public administration, sports governance, sports law and other related fields.'


Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Anti-doping amendment bill tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday tabled the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, providing greater 'operational independence' to the country's Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) as prescribed by WADA. he contentious National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports has been retained but it would no longer have the NADA appeals panel under its jurisdiction as was the case in the original act passed in 2022. That act could not be implemented as WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) objected to 'government interference' in the NADA's functioning. 'The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to enhance institutional and operational independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel and the National Anti-Doping Agency to ensure autonomy in their decisions pertaining to operations, investigations and enforcement activities,' stated the bill's objectives.