BCCI Now to Be Recognised as National Sports Federation Under New Sports Bill

In a major twist to this, one of the best High sources in the Sports Ministry, told India Today July 22 that the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is no longer outside the new National Sports Bill. Although the BCCI has always been an autonomous body since it does not depend on government budgets, this development was not a surprise at all with the Indian cricketing sides set to take part in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has formally released on Tuesday a draft of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025. It is being promoted that the proposed legislation will change the sports ecosystem in India.

The draft bill, laid by the Sports Ministry seeks to restructure the working of National Sports Federations (NSFs), as well as other sports bodies in India. It will ensure better transparency and athlete-oriented reforms and even bring the international best practices to the Indian system of sports governance.

Also Read: “How the Next Vice-President Will Be Chosen After Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Sudden Exit”

The bill years in the making is aimed at enforcing the ethical behavior, securing the rights of the athletes, and providing the professional and love-free sport environment. It is also expected to align India sports governance with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters, which will give India a good chance of hosting major world events in future including the 2036 Olympic Games bid.

One notable aspect of the bill is that it makes athletes first. A central role to policy makers will be assigned to sports-persons for the first time. All NSFs will be expected to establish Athletes Committees that will provide athletes with the official channel to express their concerns and be involved in critical decision-making processes.

According to the bill, it is also necessary that, in every sports federation, there be on the Executive Committee a minimum of two sportsmen confirmed internationally. To boost the gender representation, each Executive Committee in an attempt should have a minimum of four women in the committee.

In addressing the unresolved legal issues in the sporting arena, the bill offers to establish a National Sports Tribunal. This court will be a specific court that will have jurisdiction to settle sport related disputes and its decision will only be appealable before the Supreme Court; to reduce time wastage experienced in the past that end up ruining the career of athletes.

In the case of any federation temporarily suspended or by loss of official recognition, the newly available National Sports Board (NSB) will be in vested with the powers of taking over by appointing an ad-hock committee of the experienced administrators. This will make sure that there is no interruption in the provision of key duties such as training, selection of teams as well as participation.

The NSB will serve as a governing body, which will determine the NSFs and their affiliates in the states / districts, control, governs and organises the transfer of funds. The NSB directs to give more professionalism and independence in rest of the sports administration houses in India by discharging these functions of the Ministry.

The other pillar of the draft bill is transparency. The Right to Information Act, 2005 shall come into force to all sports bodies recognised and more records concerning the financial side and decisions will be made available to the masses.

All in all, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 should be seen as a significant step forward to the systematic clean-up of the sports administration of India by way of structural reformations, accountability, and easy to understand support of the athlete.

Also Read: UK Billionaire Declares ‘Britain Has Gone to Hell’, Lists £250M Chelsea Manor and Fires Staff

What does this imply to the BCCI?

Making the inclusion of BCCI under this law will be a milestone Indian cricket. According to the draft bill read by PTI, now the officials will be required to meet an updated age limit rule to be able to contest the election.

Under the bill, a candidate should not be above 70 years on the closing date of nominations to be elected or nominated to the executive committee. Nevertheless, it has an important clause according to which those people who are over 70 and not more than 75 should feel free to serve a complete term in case this is lawful under the international charters and statutes.

Practically speaking this would be advantageous to BCCI President Roger Binny who is 70 on Saturday, July 19. He would have been disqualified with the old regulations. However, due to the condition that the new bill is likely to take force by August 2025, it might be possible now that Binny could be re-elected and get a full term of possibly up to five years as well should he satisfy the conditions stipulated in the governance strategies of international cricket.

The draft Sports Bill that will subsume autonomous organisations such as the BCCI is expected to lead to a welcome change in the cultural psyche of Indian sports governance after a long time. With the nation aspiring to their international sporting dream, the 2028 Olympics, and potential 2036 Olympic bid, this law may be a game changer.

The draft of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, was unveiled by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially, on Tuesday.

Also Read: Isha Ambani Stuns in Unique Pink Bandhani Gown by Roberto Cavalli — A Couture Fusion of Indian Bandhani Craft and Italian Elegance