New Sports Bills Will Boost India's Global Sporting Performance: Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

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New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the two landmark sports legislations passed by Parliament will significantly improve governance in Indian sports and help athletes perform better on the global stage.

The Rajya Sabha passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 via voice vote on Tuesday (August 12), after both had earlier been approved by the Lok Sabha.

Piloting the bills, Mandaviya said India's sports federations have been caught in "legal paralysis" due to prolonged disputes, which directly affect athlete performance. "We aspire to be in the first five positions in terms of medals, and for that, good governance in the sports sector is necessary," he said.

The Sports Governance Bill aims to streamline coordination between federations, athletes, and the government. It establishes a National Sports Board (NSB) with the authority to ensure accountability, derecognise bodies failing to hold fair elections, and address gross irregularities. NSFs will need NSB recognition to access central funding.

The bill also proposes a National Sports Tribunal to handle disputes related to selections, elections, and other matters, with its decisions appealable only in the Supreme Court. It introduces stricter financial oversight, allowing NSB to act against misuse of public funds, and adjusts the age limit for administrators to 75 if permitted by global bodies.

The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aligns Indian law with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requirements, ensuring the independence of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) from government interference.

Leaders across parties welcomed the reforms. YSRCP's Ayodhya Rami Reddy stressed the need for state- and district-level athlete welfare strategies. NCP's Praful Patel called the legislation "necessary and laudable." Minister Jayant Chaudhary highlighted that federations will now be run by athletes and sports experts rather than politicians.

BJP's Bhubaneswar Kalita said the government's vision includes aiming for the top ten in global sports rankings by the 2036 Olympics. Nominated member Sudha Murty urged greater doping awareness in rural areas to protect young talent emerging through Khelo India.

With these new laws, India's sports governance framework moves from guidelines to binding legal mandates-marking a decisive step toward fair play, transparency, and global competitiveness.