Parliament Question: National Sports Governance Rules, 2026

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1414 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026 National Sports Governance Rules, 2026 1414.SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: SMT. VIJAYLAKSHMI DEVI: SHRI CHINTAMANI MAHARAJ: SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA: SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR: SMT. SMITA UDAY WAGH: SMT. HIMADRI SINGH: SHRI NEERAJ MAURYA: SHRI P C MOHAN: SHRI ALOK SHARMA: SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA: SHRI DINESHBHAI MAKWANA: SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE: SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA: SHRI LUMBARAM CHOUDHARY: SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the main objectives, salient features and key provisions of the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 notified under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025; Page 1 of 4(b) the manner in which the said Rules aim to ensure transparency and accountability in sports organisations; (c) the provisions and special arrangements made under these Rules to ensure participation, representation and inclusion of outstanding sportspersons and women/women athletes in the administrative structures of National Sports Federations Bodies; (d) the timelines and procedures prescribed under these Rules for conducting elections of national sports bodies, updating affiliated units and compliance; (e) whether any capacity building or awareness measures have been undertaken to facilitate smooth adoptions of the rules by Sports Bodies and if so, the details thereof; (f) the details of the system adopted to ensure effective implementation of these administrative reforms in all recognised National Sports Federation with specific reference to sports institution in Maharashtra; and (g) the manner in which effective implementation of these administrative reforms is likely to develop sporting talent at the grassroots level, fair selection and institutional empowerment in Parliamentary Constituencies, such as Shahjahanpur and Aonla (Bareilly) in Uttar Pradesh? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] (a) to (g) The National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 framed under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 has been notified on 12.01.2026. The said Rules lay down a statutory framework relating to governance standards, recognition, compliance requirements, ethical conduct, and institutional accountability within the sports ecosystem. Every National Sports Body is required, within a period of six months, to amend its bye-laws in conformity with the provisions of the Act. Page 2 of 4The Salient features of National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 are:  Framework for the inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, composition of the General Body and Executive Committee, election procedures, and disqualification criteria for members of National Sports Bodies and Regional Sports Federations.  Inclusion of at least four sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs) in General Bodies, with 50% being women. To ensure at least four women in Executive Committees, National Sports Bodies may reserve specific posts for women in the Executive Committee through their bye-laws.  General eligibility criteria and tiered criteria for representation of SOMs in the General Body and Executive Committee of National Sports Bodies.  Procedure for election to Executive Committee with timelines for each stage of election, starting from submission of application to be a SOM to call for elections, release of final electoral roll and invitation for nominations.  Disqualifications for being a member of the General Body, or of any committee of a National Sports Body and declaring them ineligible for contesting for election to the Executive Committee or the Athletes Committee. Among the disqualifications, persons convicted by a court of law for an offence, followed by a sentence of imprisonment, are debarred from contesting for elections to Executive Committee or the Athletes Committee or being member in the General Body or any committee of a National Sports Body.  Provision for Roster of the National Sports Election Panel.  National Sports Bodies to ensure and facilitate the registration of all their affiliate units with the National Sports Board in such form and manner as may be specified by the National Sports Board from time to time. Page 3 of 4All recognised National Sports Federations are required to adhere to the notified provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, as well as the associated Rules. NSFs are required to take all necessary steps to align their constitutions or bye-laws, institutional processes, and operations with this statutory framework within the stipulated timelines. Copies of the Act, the Notification and Rules are available on the website of the Ministry at the following link: https://yas.gov.in/en/sports/nsga-2025 NSFs are fully responsible and accountable for the overall management, direction, control, regulation, promotion, development and sponsorship of the discipline for which they are recognized by the concerned International Federation. They are expected to discharge these responsibilities in consonance with the principles laid down in the Olympic Charter or in the charter of the Indian Olympic Association or the relevant International Federation. The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 provides that a recognised sports organisation shall ensure that all its voting members and affiliate units, as applicable, complies with— (a) the International Charters and Statutes, as applicable, and shall exercise the rights, perform the duties and discharge the functions as specified therein; and (b) the provisions of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder. The Ministry’s detailed instructions to NSFs regarding fairness and transparency in the selection of athletes are already in place. These instructions are available on the website of the Ministry at the following link: https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Instructions%20relating%20 to%20selection%20of%20sportspersons%20%2805.03.2025%2 9%20%281%29.pdf **** Page 4 of 4