New Delhi: Apart from domestic stakeholders, the impending National Sports Bill has been prepared after consultations with international governing bodies too, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.
The bill will be tabled at the monsoon session of the Parliament that begins on July 21 and has been drafted to end plethora of litigation, infighting and governance woes of national sports federations (NSFs).
At the Khelo Bharat Conclave in New Delhi in which representatives from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), NSFs, corporates and athletes were present, Mandaviya disclosed to have even spoken to former sports minister and Congress leader Ajay Maken over the bill.
“I did a series of consultations with NSFs, athletes, coaches, also got 600 inputs from the public when the draft was put online for suggestions. I also had a three-hour meeting with sports lawyers to understand their perspective,” Mandaviya said.
“The IOC (International Olympic Committee) was consulted as well along with international sports federations. FIFA had a query and I sent an officer to their headquarters to discuss things with them.
“The National Sports Bill is now ready and will be in parliament during monsoon session. I spoke to Ajay Maken (senior Congress leader) too. He made a good effort to have this bill passed.”
Contentious clauses
But even before its unveiling, the bill has drawn reservations from the IOA, whose president PT Usha has pointed out several clauses that could undermine its power and invite suspension from international bodies.
In an effort to make sports administrators more accountable, the bill proposed formation of a regulatory board that would be empowered to grant recognition and decide on funding NSFs on the basis of their adherence to norms on governance.
Scripting Bharat’s Sporting Future!
Addressed the Khelo Bharat Conclave 2025 in New Delhi today, where NSFs, Athletes, Coaches, Corporates, and Government came together to shape the future of Indian sports.
Modi Government has always prioritised the welfare of sportspersons… pic.twitter.com/iC0go1OVQs
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 17, 2025
The board would also have the power to ensure that NSFs comply with financial and ethical standards. To ensure transparency, the bill also proposed formation of an Ethics Commission and Dispute Resolution Commission.
Mandaviya also harped on the need for administrators to keep the larger picture in mind insted of thinking about their personal interests.
“We have to introspect whether it’s enough to just grab the chair. We have to let go of ego. Give the seat to someone better if you see one. Reforms is a step by step process,” he said.