Central Government Notifies Commencement of Select Provisions of National Sports Governance Act, 2025

New Delhi: The Central Government has notified the commencement of select provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (25 of 2025) was notified in the Official Gazette on 18th August, 2025. Section 1(2) of the Act provides that the Act shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, and that different dates may be appointed for different provisions of the Act.

Accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the Central Government has appointed 1st January, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of sections 1 to 3, sub-sections (1), (2) and (4) of section 4, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 5, sub-section (5) of section 8, sub-section (1) of section 11, sections 14 and 15, sub-sections (1) to (7) and (10) of section 17, sections 30 and 31, and sections 33 to 38 of the said Act shall come into force.

The provisions being brought into effect relate, inter alia, to the establishment and governance framework of National Sports Bodies, including the National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, National Sports Federations and Regional Sports Federations; the constitution of the National Sports Board; compliance requirements applicable to recognised sports organisations; privileges and duties of recognised sports organisations; constitution of the National Sports Tribunal; and the rule-making powers of the Central Government.

The phased commencement of the Act is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition to the statutory sports governance framework. The Act seeks to promote transparency, accountability, ethical practices and good governance in sports administration, ensure welfare of sportspersons, and provide for effective and timely resolution of sports-related disputes, in consonance with the Olympic Charter, the Paralympic Charter and international best practices.

With effect from 1st January, 2026, the institutional mechanisms envisaged under the notified provisions of the Act shall become operational.