Union government notifies National Sports Governance Rules, 2026

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The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, marking a significant step for sports administration in India.

According to an official release from the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the rules lay down a comprehensive framework governing the composition of General Bodies and Executive Committees, inclusion of sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs), election procedures, and disqualification criteria for members of National Sports Bodies (NSBs) and Regional Sports Federations.

The rules also detail procedures for the registration and periodic updating of affiliated units with the National Sports Board and outline provisions relating to the National Sports Election Panel.

One of the key provisions mandates the inclusion of at least four sportspersons of outstanding merit in the General Body of every National Sports Body. To ensure gender representation, 50 per cent of these SOMs must be women. Additionally, NSBs may reserve specific positions for women in their Executive Committees through their respective bye-laws.

The rules prescribe a ten-tier classification system for selecting athletes as SOM representatives in the General Body and Executive Committee. Applicants must be at least 25 years of age, retired from their respective sport, and should not have participated in any competitive event at the district, state or national level for at least one year prior to the date of application.

The tiered criteria are based on the level of sporting achievements attained by Indian athletes across disciplines. The highest tier includes sportspersons who have won gold, silver or bronze medals at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Winter Olympics, while the lowest tier covers medal winners at the National Games or National Championships. Keeping the diversity of sports disciplines in mind, the criteria have been framed broadly.

The rules also provide detailed election procedures, including fixed timelines for each stage, ranging from submission of SOM applications to the issuance of election notices, publication of the final electoral roll and invitation of nominations.

Clear disqualification norms have been outlined for membership of the General Body, Executive Committee or any other committee of a National Sports Body. Individuals convicted by a court of law and sentenced to imprisonment are barred from being members or contesting elections to the Executive Committee or the Athletes’ Committee.

Further, the National Sports Election Panel must consist of at least 20 qualified members at all times, in accordance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

With the notification of these rules, every National Sports Body is required to amend its bye-laws within six months to align with the provisions of the Act. The fee of the Electoral Officer, selected from the Election Panel, will be determined through mutual agreement with the concerned National Sports Body, subject to a maximum cap of ₹5 lakh, along with a mutually agreed fee for any assistant appointed.

The notification of the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026, marks a key milestone in the transition to a structured and transparent sports governance framework, following the enactment of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.