Mansukh Mandaviya (Annie’s photo)
NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry has officially notified new rules under the National Sports Administration Act, 2025 to improve how sports bodies and disputes are managed in India. The newly notified National Sports Council and National Sports Court Rules 2026 aim to make sports administration more transparent, professional and digitally regulated.
One of the biggest changes is the dedicated online system where sports-related disputes, notices, documents and hearings can be handled digitally. The government said the system would allow “the submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications” along with virtual hearings, publication of orders and retention of records.The new National Sports Council will serve as the main authority responsible for recognizing national sports bodies and checking whether they follow governance, financial and ethical standards.
According to the notification, “The Central Government shall appoint a Chairman and two members of the Council from the Names Committee recommended by the Search and Selection Committee.”The government also established a National Sports Court to specifically deal with legal disputes related to sports. The aim is to reduce the burden on civil courts and provide faster decisions in sporting matters.The rules state that “the President and each other member shall hold office for a period of three years from the date on which they assume office or until they attain the age of sixty-five, whichever occurs first.”
To avoid a conflict of interest, the notification added: “Neither the President nor any member shall, during his or her term of office, hold any position in any international sports body, national sports body or unit thereof.”The Council will also maintain public records for sports bodies, propose international best practices, organize workshops, and monitor governance standards. In addition, its financial accounts will be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and will subsequently be presented before Parliament.