Latest news with #NationalSportsGovernanceBill2025
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Don't play around with BCCI
In what can be called as a 'better late than never' initiative, the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 that was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, appears, at least on paper, like a panacea for many of the ills besetting the sports fraternity in the country. Although, this raises a glimmer of hope for all and sundry, the fact of the matter is that this ambitious attempt wherein the buck stops with the government, has to reckon with challenges one too many if the proposed norms are to become relevant and meaningful. Barring those into cricket and perhaps golf and the many who have relocated to foreign bases to make a name and pocket millions like some chess players, Indian athletes have forever remained an accursed lot, poor cousins of the stinking rich cricketers, if one goes by the measly support from the government. The landmark Bill may help regulate the administrative set-up and prioritise athletes' interests, but it lags way behind when it comes to meeting the needs, especially as regards infrastructure and financial support, overseas exposure and hiring foreign coaches that can collectively be a morale-booster for every budding athlete. The truth is that there has been an abysmal promotion of sports for decades together. One must also note that the administration has never been transparent, the entire system has been ridden with internal power struggles and an overwhelming political involvement that has rendered more harm than good. The toner of the Bill appears like it will address all issues and bring about a hitherto absent accountability and a legal framework to rejuvenate the entire administrative apparatus like mandating inclusion of athletes in every decision-making committee; National Sports Federation (NSF) to put in place an independent Ethics and Grievance Redressal Board; establishing an independent National Sports Board, a National Sports Tribunal and a National Sports Election Panel. So far, so good! Alas the pitfall is that the government appears to be obsessed with the Olympics and focussing on the disciplines that figure in the global extravaganza. One should not forget that many such earlier attempts have ended up as non-starters, futile exercises or have boomeranged on the authorities. Ace paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal, who has welcomed the Bill, was bang on. 'I think this athlete-centric bill has been much-awaited, not just by the players but also by all stakeholders involved in Indian sport. There are a lot of pending cases that are affecting the growth of a sports person and, thereby, the growth of Indian sports.' The biggest problem that the government faces is in bringing the prized money-spinner, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under its ambit. It would be a herculean task to beard the world's richest cricketing body or force its authorities to follow any foolhardy diktat. Hoping to bring cricket under its control just because the sport is to debut as an Olympic event at Los Angeles in 2028 is nothing but Utopian daydreaming. Football has been an Olympic sport for ages but basketball, for all its much-hyped inclusion in Olympics, does not really attract the participation of the contemporary crème da la crème. Making cricket an Olympic sport is one thing and bringing the BCCI under the government ambit is quite another for the simple reason that the Board does not take any government funding. Moreover, trying to boss over the BCCI may result in a backlash by the players and millions of fans, nay voters.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Game changer? Governance bill puts BCCI under RTI, caps power in sports bodies
New Delhi: The govt introduced the 'National Sports Governance Bill 2025' in Parliament on Wednesday, marking a significant overhaul of the regulatory framework for sports bodies in India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 30-page legislation, a copy of which is with TOI, outlines several key provisions aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within national sports federations (NSFs). A pivotal clause in the bill states that 'recognised sports bodies designated as public authority will come under RTI Act'. This amendment resolves a long-standing ambiguity, placing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) within the purview of the Right to Information Act after years of resistance. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Previously, the BCCI did not classify itself as a public body or NSF, thereby opposing govt attempts to oversee its operations. With the new bill, the BCCI will operate as an NSF, subjecting its financial records to public scrutiny. The BCCI has adopted a 'wait and watch' policy, with its officials looking to study the bill first to understand its impact on the board's functioning before commenting on the matter. The board is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. Status of BCCI as public authority under the An official note on the ministry of youth affairs and sports (MYAS) website informs about the BCCI's reluctance to come under RTI purview. 'The MYAS, vide its order dated 21st April, 2010 declared recognised NSF as 'Public Authority' under the RTI Act, 2005. As BCCI has never approached the MYAS for recognition as NSF, the ministry has not recognised BCCI as NSF. However, the Chief Information Commission (CIC) vide its order dated 01.10.2018 (Annexure-I) held the BCCI as the public authority under RTI Act, 2005 and directed the president, secretary and committee of administrators (CoA) to designate deserving officers as Central Public Information Officers, Central Assistant Public Information Officers and First Appellate Authorities and put in place a system of online and offline mechanisms to receive the applications for information under RTI Act. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now MYAS was directed to take necessary steps to ensure implementation of this order. However, BCCI filed a writ petition in the High Court of Judicature at Madras challenging CIC's Order dated 01.10.2018. The High Court vide its order dated 09.11.2018 and 10.12.2018 (Annexure-II & III) had granted stay on CIC's order dated 01.10.2018. The stay order is still in operation.' Poll Should the BCCI be classified as a public authority under the RTI Act? Yes, it should be transparent No, it should remain independent Impose restrictions on national team's participation The bill also grants the govt overriding powers to impose international restrictions on the participation of national teams when deemed necessary for national interest. This provision ensures that the govt can intervene in international sports affairs to protect the country's sporting reputation and interests. Cap on EC members Furthermore, the bill introduces a cap on the composition of Executive Committees (EC) for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and other NSFs. Each committee will be restricted to a maximum of 15 members, with a mandatory inclusion of at least four women. This measure aims to promote gender diversity and prevent executive bodies from becoming disproportionately dominated by a single group. National Sports Election Panel The bill calls for the formation of a pool of qualified election officials for transparent elections in sports federations. It will end inflated payments and biased appointments and fees standardised by NSB. In cases of suspension, derecognition, or governance failure, the NSB may direct the NOC to constitute an ad-hoc administrative body.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt set to table National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in Parliament: BCCI to come under its scope
Live Events Recurring litigation related to NSF elections and athlete selections Absence of a dedicated dispute resolution body Weak athlete representation in governing bodies Gender imbalance in leadership roles Non-uniform electoral processes Financial opacity and mismanagement Lack of internal grievance redressal frameworks Court delays affecting sporting events No legal status for safe sport mechanisms Limited enforceability of existing code provisions Clarifying Misconceptions (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Central government is preparing to introduce the long-anticipated National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in Parliament on Wednesday. This landmark legislation is aimed at establishing a legal framework to ensure transparent and fair functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs), while also enhancing athlete protection through safe sport protocols and grievance redressal bill seeks to promote sports ethics, safeguard athletes' interests, and resolve administrative disputes through a standardized governance structure for NSFs. In a parallel move, the government will also present the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. This amendment intends to align India's anti-doping laws with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and global norms. It will also ensure independence for both the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) and the Anti-Doping Appeals Panel (ADAP).This legislative step marks a significant achievement for the BJP-led NDA government. The governance bill had earlier been returned twice by the Cabinet and once by Parliament due to lack of Brought Under the Governance UmbrellaOne of the most notable provisions in the bill is that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will be recognised as an NSF, and thus be subject to the same governance framework. The BCCI, like all federations, will be required to seek annual recognition once the bill becomes law. All its ongoing and future legal disputes will be handled by the newly proposed National Sports Tribunal As per the bill, neither the BCCI nor its affiliated state associations will be allowed to approach courts directly in case of disputes. Post its scheduled elections in September, the board will have to apply for recognition from the upcoming National Sports Board, even though it does not receive government funding.A senior ministry official clarified: 'Like all NSFs, the BCCI will have to comply with the law of the land once the bill becomes an Act. The Board doesn't take ministry funding but an Act of Parliament applies to them. They will remain an autonomous body like all other NSFs but their disputes, if any, will also come to the National Sports Tribunal which will become the dispute resolution body for sports matters ranging from elections to selection. However, this bill does not mean govt control over any NSF. The govt will be a facilitator in ensuring good governance, not an enforcer.'Ten Core Issues AddressedThe bill is designed to tackle 10 persistent issues in Indian sports administration The Ministry has sought to clarify myths surrounding the bill, particularly fears of government interference. The official noted: 'The bill ensures autonomy while enforcing basic governance standards.'Age and Tenure Relaxation ProvisionsThe bill also addresses long-debated issues concerning age and tenure limits for office-bearers of NSFs. It allows officials—including presidents, secretary generals, and treasurers—to serve their full term even if they cross the age of 70 during their a person is elected to a position just before turning 70 (for instance, at 69 years and 364 days), they will be permitted to complete their full tenure, the bill proposes: 'The president, secretary and treasurer shall be eligible for election to the executive committee after a cooling-off period of one term, provided they have held the position for the last three consecutive terms. A term shall not be of more than four years which will be a total of 12 years (three terms of four year each).'A Step Forward in Indian Sports GovernanceThe introduction of this bill signals a transformative moment in Indian sports administration. It not only brings high-profile bodies like the BCCI under the governance net but also aims to institutionalize athlete-centric and transparent practices, paving the way for a more accountable sports ecosystem.[With TOI inputs]
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
BCCI's Rajeev Shukla Stays Mum On Sports Governance Bill: 'We Will Study And..'
Rajeev Shukla, BCCI VP, said they will review the National Sports Governance Bill before commenting. Rajeev Shukla, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stated that they would first review the National Sports Governance Bill, which is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on Wednesday, before sharing his views on it. Sources from the Sports Ministry revealed on Tuesday that the proposed National Sports Governance Bill 2025, expected to be tabled during the monsoon session of Parliament, aims to include the BCCI under its jurisdiction. Although the BCCI does not rely on government funding, its inclusion in the bill was anticipated, especially in light of the Indian cricket team's planned participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. What BCCI Is Not Under Sports Code? The BCCI is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and oversees all aspects of cricket in India, both domestically and internationally. Currently, the BCCI does not fall under the 45 recognised National Sports Federations. Should the Indian cricket board come under the bill's scope, it might also be subject to the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The bill is designed to establish a legal framework for the transparent and fair operation of sports bodies, making athlete representation mandatory in decision-making processes. It seeks to ensure quick dispute resolution through the Sports Tribunal and fair and transparent elections via the election panel. Officials mentioned that the government's role will be that of a facilitator, not a controller. view comments 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.
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Sports Governance Bill 2025: How it will impact BCCI operations, elections
The central government is set to table the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 in Parliament, alongside the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lower House on Wednesday. The proposed legislation aims to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under its ambit, sparking discussions about how it may influence the board's operations and upcoming elections. BCCI to come under central govt oversight Once passed and enacted into law, the Sports Governance Bill will place the BCCI under the Centre's purview, classifying it as a National Sports Federation (NSF). Like all other federations, the BCCI will be required to apply for annual recognition. Additionally, ongoing and future legal disputes involving the board will be handled by the proposed National Sports Tribunal. Mandatory elections for continued recognition The BCCI must hold elections during its Annual General Meeting in September or October to appoint a new set of office-bearers. Failure to conduct elections could result in the government refusing to renew its annual recognition. Without this recognition, the BCCI would not be allowed to use the name 'India' in international events or host matches as the official national team. Why the bill imposes an age cap? Although the International Cricket Council (ICC) has no upper age limit for its officials, the Sports Governance Bill aligns with standards followed by global bodies like the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA, and other international federations. It also incorporates the Justice Lodha Committee's recommendations, which are already part of the BCCI's constitution and impose a 70-year age limit on office-bearers. Can BCCI still amend its constitution? Yes. The BCCI retains the authority to amend its constitution. As it stands, the rules allow an office-bearer to serve one three-year term, followed by a mandatory cooling-off period of equal duration. After this interval, the individual may contest again. Any disputes arising from constitutional amendments will be addressed by the National Sports Tribunal, with only the Supreme Court empowered to review the tribunal's decisions.
