The Sports Ministry has notified the National Sports Board and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act.
Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya (PC: IANS)
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Tuesday notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 under the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
The newly notified rules lay down the framework for the functioning of the National Sports Board and the National Sports Tribunal, aimed at strengthening governance standards and ensuring quicker, cost-effective resolution of sports-related disputes in India.
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The rules also introduce several techno-legal measures for digital implementation, including a dedicated online portal for filing disputes, notices, responses and documents, alongside virtual hearings, digital communication from the Tribunal and online publication of orders and records.
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Under the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026, the Board will comprise a chairperson and two members appointed by the central government from a panel recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted under the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026.
“The Central Government shall appoint the Chairperson and two Members of the Board from the panel of names recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee,” the ministry said in its notification.
The National Sports Board will act as the central authority responsible for granting recognition to national sports bodies and monitoring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.
The Board will also maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel and a register of affiliate units of national sports bodies. Both records will be treated as public documents under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.
In addition, the Board has been empowered to frame model guidelines on sports governance, recommend adoption of international best practices and organise workshops, seminars and training programmes in collaboration with international sports bodies.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 outline the appointment process, tenure, salary, service conditions and powers of the Tribunal.
According to the notification, the Chairperson and Members of the Tribunal will hold office for three years or until attaining the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
The rules also bar the Chairperson and Members from holding positions in any international sports body, national sports body, affiliate unit or national sports promotion organisation during their tenure.
The Tribunal will function as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes, with the objective of reducing dependence on civil courts and ensuring independent, speedy and accessible dispute resolution.
The government said the mechanism is expected to minimise multiple litigations and create a single-window system for resolving disputes related to sports governance and administration.
The ministry further stated that the board will prepare annual financial statements, including balance sheets and expenditure accounts, in the format prescribed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
The audited accounts, along with the CAG report, will subsequently be forwarded to the central government for tabling before both Houses of Parliament.
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