Rajeev Shukla, Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said the board will withhold any comments on the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 until it has been formally introduced and reviewed.
“We will have to study the bill after it’s introduced. Only then can I express my views on it,” Shukla told ANI on Tuesday.
Sources from the Ministry of Sports revealed that the proposed legislation—expected to be presented during the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Wednesday—seeks to bring the BCCI under its purview. This move is seen as significant given India’s expected participation in cricket at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Though the BCCI does not receive government funding and is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, its inclusion under the bill may make it subject to Right to Information (RTI) regulations—a notable shift for the cricketing body, which currently operates outside the 45 recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs).
What the Bill Proposes
Officials said the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 is designed to introduce a transparent, accountable, and athlete-centric structure for Indian sports bodies. Key proposals include:
- Mandatory athlete representation in federation decision-making
- Gender balance in sports leadership roles
- Standardised electoral processes across federations
- Establishing a dedicated Sports Tribunal for quick dispute resolution
- Transparent and fair elections through an independent panel
- Internal grievance redressal mechanisms within federations
- Enhanced financial transparency and reduced legal disputes
The bill also aims to reduce government overreach, positioning the government as a facilitator rather than a controller, officials clarified.
If passed, the bill could usher in a landmark change in Indian sports governance—and potentially transform the functioning of one of the country’s most powerful sporting bodies, the BCCI.
