BCCI Relieved as Sports Bill Narrows RTI Scope to Govt-Funded Bodies

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a breather with the Sports Ministry revising a critical clause in the National Sports Governance Bill. The amendment ensures that only sports bodies availing government grants or aid fall under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Introduced in the Lok Sabha by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on July 23, the bill's original clause 15(2) had proposed bringing all recognised sports bodies under the RTI Act. That sparked concern within the BCCI, which maintains that it functions independently without government funding-unlike most National Sports Federations (NSFs).

However, with the latest revision, the bill now makes it clear that "a public authority" under the RTI Act will be one that relies on government support. "The amended clause defines public authority as an entity that is relying on government funds or assistance. With this amendment, there is a clear definition of what is a public authority," a source told PTI.

"If this had not been done, it would have been a grey area that could have led to the bill getting held up or being challenged in court," the source said, adding, "So anything that involves public money will come under RTI. It defines the specifics."

Even sports bodies not directly receiving funds may be held accountable if they benefit from government support-like free access to public infrastructure. "Because government assistance is not merely funds, it is also about infrastructure," the source explained.

Despite its current exemption, the BCCI will still need to register as an NSF once cricket debuts in the 2028 Olympics in the T20 format.

The bill also proposes establishing a National Sports Board (NSB) to ensure accountability among federations. In addition, a National Sports Tribunal with civil court powers will be created to handle disputes. Tribunal verdicts can only be appealed in the Supreme Court.

Further, the bill relaxes the administrator age cap to 75 in cases where international regulations permit it. The government says these changes are part of broader reforms aimed at improving India's Olympic ambitions for 2036.