BCCI to Come Under National Sports Bill, RTI Act; Set to be Recognised as National Sports Federation

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New Delhi, July 22: In a landmark development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to come under the ambit of the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, as multiple media reports confirmed by top sources in the Sports Ministry.

The Narendra Modi Government is set to table the National Sports Bill in the Parliament on Wednesday (July 23). The move will align the world's richest cricket board with India's broader push for transparency, athlete-centric reforms, and accountability in sports governance - especially as cricket becomes part of the Olympic programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Though financially independent and historically autonomous, the BCCI will now be recognised as a National Sports Federation (NSF). This classification will subject it to the same rules, governance standards, and dispute resolution mechanisms as other recognised federations.

Key Reforms Coming for the BCCI

According to media reports quoting ministry insiders, the BCCI, like all NSFs, will "have to comply with the law of the land once this bill becomes an Act." Importantly, any disputes involving the BCCI, including those related to selections or internal elections, could now be addressed by the soon-to-be-formed National Sports Tribunal, the apex body for resolving such conflicts.

The bill also increases the upper age limit for office-bearers from 70 to 75 years, a move welcomed across federations and one that allows current BCCI president Roger Binny (70) to continue in his role.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia responded cautiously to a Hindustan Times report, stating, "We will have to study the Bill and then we will see what we need to do."

A Historic Shift in Governance

This formal inclusion of the BCCI in the national framework comes years after its gradual integration into the government's transparency mechanisms. The cricket board was brought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2020, but this new law would further subject it to oversight by the National Sports Board (NSB). This newly proposed body will monitor governance, compliance, and financial accountability.

The move is seen as inevitable with India eyeing a podium finish at the 2028 Olympics, where both men's and women's cricket will feature for the first time in over a century.

What Is the National Sports Bill, 2025?

Unveiled on July 22, the Draft National Sports Governance Bill 2025 aims to overhaul India's sports governance structure. It incorporates several sweeping reforms:

• Recognition of NSFs: All major sporting bodies, including BCCI, will now be NSFs and hence under Sports Ministry regulations.
• Athlete-First Approach: Mandatory creation of Athletes' Committees and at least two athletes of outstanding merit on Executive Committees.
• Increased Representation: Every sports body must include at least four women on its executive body.
• Transparency: All NSFs will be under the RTI Act, and their decision-making and financial documents must be accessible.
• Sports Tribunal: A new National Sports Tribunal will handle disputes, with appeals allowed only in the Supreme Court.
• Powerful NSB: The National Sports Board will have the authority to suspend federations, appoint ad-hoc committees, and engage with international federations.

Implications for Sports Bodies

The bill will empower the NSB - a government-appointed authority - to take action on issues ranging from faulty elections to financial malpractice. The Board will consist of a chairperson, two ex-federation office-bearers, one decorated athlete (Arjuna/Khel Ratna/Dronacharya awardee), and representatives from SAI and the Sports Ministry.

For the BCCI, this marks a significant evolution from its historically autonomous status. While it will continue to enjoy operational independence, it must now align its governance and operations with the national policy - especially crucial as India pushes for hosting the 2036 Olympics and aims to make sport a commercial and cultural pillar of the country's future.

The inclusion of the BCCI under the National Sports Governance Bill will mark a turning point for Indian cricket administration. It signals a broader institutional effort to bring consistency, accountability, and athlete-centric policies across all sports.