Parliament Question: Voting rights in State Sports Associations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No-4472 ANSWERED ON- 02/04/2026 VOTING RIGHTS IN STATE SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS 4472 SHRI IMRAN PRATAPGARHI: Will the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports be pleased to state: (a) the details of members who are eligible to vote in the elections of State Sports Associations across the country; (b) whether voting rights are restricted only to affiliated District Sports Associations or are also extended to other entities such as clubs, institutional units, academies or individuals; (c) whether the eligibility criteria for voting members is governed by the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, National Sports Governance Act 2025 or by the respective constitutions of State Sports Associations; and (d) the steps taken by Government to ensure transparency, uniformity and democratic functioning in the electoral processes of State Sports Associations? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) to (d) National Sports Governance Act 2025 (NSG Act 2025) has been enacted by the Parliament. Select provisions/sections of the NSG Act, 2025 has been notified on 31.12.2025. Further, the Ministry has also notified two sets of Rules under the said Act namely, National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 & National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026. NSG Act 2025, defines “affiliate unit” as State, district or other units of: (i) the National Olympic Committee; (ii) the National Paralympic Committee; (iii) the National Sports Federation; and (iv) the Regional Sports Federation; Page 1 of 2The NSG Act, 2025 mandates National Sports Bodies to ensure compliance by all voting members and affiliate units, as applicable, comply with the International Charters and Statutes, as applicable, and shall exercise the rights, perform the duties and discharge the functions as specified therein; and the provisions of the NSG Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder. Further, to ensure transparency, uniformity and democratic functioning of state sports associations, the Ministry in line with Section 18(1) of National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 has vide its letter dated 28.01.2026 asked all recognised NSFs to take all necessary steps to align their constitutions or bye-laws, institutional processes and operations with the statutory framework laid down in the Act and the Rules framed thereunder within the stipulated timelines. ***** Page 2 of 2