- Why in news
- On 15 June 2026 the Union Government constituted a 5-member Search-cum-Selection Committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan, to pick the Chairperson and two Members of the National Sports Board under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
- What it is
- The National Sports Board is a statutory authority created under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. It is the central authority that recognises National Sports Bodies and checks that they follow governance, financial and ethical standards. Its head and members are chosen on the recommendation of a search-cum-selection committee set up under rules framed under the Act.
- Committee head
- Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan chairs the five-member committee.
- Committee's task
- It must recommend a panel of names for the Board's Chairperson and two Members.
- Legal basis
- The committee was constituted under the National Sports Board (Search-cum Selection Committee) Rules, 2026, made under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
- Board's role
- The Board grants recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensures compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.
- Composition
- The Board has a Chairperson and two Members, appointed by the Central Government.
- Appointment route
- Names come as a panel from a Search-cum-Selection Committee, which has its own Rules, 2026.
- Main function
- The Board grants recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensures compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.
- Tribunal role
- The Tribunal is a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports disputes, meant to reduce reliance on civil courts.
- Digital features
- The Tribunal Rules provide a dedicated portal for filing disputes, virtual hearings and publication of orders.
Don’t confuse with National Sports Board vs Sports Authority of India: The Board is a statutory regulator that recognises national sports bodies. SAI is the executive agency that runs training and sports promotion.
Don’t confuse with Board vs Tribunal: The Board recognises and regulates National Sports Bodies. The Tribunal adjudicates sports disputes.
Don’t confuse with Sports Authority of India: SAI promotes and trains sports; the Board is a regulator of governance standards of sports bodies.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- A recognition authority with a fixed selection process can bring transparency and accountability to sports federations.
- Eligibility based on integrity and expertise aims to make sports governance more professional.
- Brings governance standards, accountability and transparency to sports federations.
- A single forum for disputes can cut litigation and delay, helping athletes.
Problems
- The Cabinet Secretary and the Sports Secretary on the committee may raise concerns about government influence over sports bodies.
- Federations may resist oversight, and international bodies such as the IOC stress autonomy from government.
- Government-appointed Board may raise concerns about autonomy of sports bodies and conflict with international federations' rules.
- Capacity of a small Board and Tribunal to handle many disputes and ensure compliance.
Way forward
- Keep the selection process transparent and publish the criteria used.
- Ensure the Board works independently while holding federations accountable.
- Keep appointments transparent through the search-cum-selection process and protect functional independence.
- Align rules with Olympic Charter norms and use the digital portal to ensure speedy disposal.
Put in your answer
Selection committee composition: The committee mixes officials, a sports administrator and two National Sports Awardees. This is an example of expert and stakeholder representation in a statutory appointment.
Tribunal as single window: The Tribunal aims to reduce multiplicity of litigation and give faster, simpler resolution of sports disputes.
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UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The National Sports Board under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 consists of a Chairperson and two Members.
- 2.The Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board are appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Justice of India.
- 3.The National Sports Tribunal is meant to reduce reliance on civil courts in the disposal of sports disputes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 6
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The National Sports Board under the Rules consists of a Chairperson and two Members.
True. Chairperson plus two Members.
2.The Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board are appointed by the President on the advice of the Chief Justice of India.
False. They are appointed by the Central Government from a panel recommended by a Search-cum-Selection Committee.
3.The National Sports Board is the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies.
True. Recognition of National Sports Bodies is its central function.
4.The National Sports Tribunal is meant to increase the role of civil courts in sports disputes.
False. It aims to reduce reliance on civil courts.
5.The Tribunal Rules provide for a dedicated portal for filing disputes and for virtual hearings.
True. The Central Government notifies a portal; virtual hearings are provided for.
6.The National Sports Board and Tribunal Rules, 2026 were framed under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
True. Both sets of Rules are under the 2025 Act.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Mains practice
15 marks · 250 words
The Union Government has notified the National Sports Board Rules and the National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. Examine the key provisions of the Act and the Rules for the governance of sports bodies and the settlement of sports disputes. Discuss the challenges in their implementation and suggest a way forward.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.