Sports Governance

System of oversight and decision-making in sports organizations.

Cue Words	Notes
Explain the historical baseline and institutional transitions under the 12th FYP ('Mass Participation' strategy) for sports.	Source: 12th FYP Vol. III, Ch. 24 | Latest Status: Khelo India & TOPS (2025) The 12th Plan shifted from "Elite-only" focus to "Panchayat-level Participation" (PYKKA). 12th Plan Progress Indicators: Rural Infrastructure: 25% Blocks (PYKKA) → 100% Blocks → Khelo India Centres (Pan-India) Medal Prospecting: Ad-hoc → NSDF Scaling → TOPS (Target Olympic Podium) Anti-Doping: Administrative → Statutory Agency → NADA Act 2022 enacted Sports University: Nil → National University → NSU Manipur operational Key Institutional Transitions: PYKKA to Khelo India: The 12th Plan expanded the Panchayat Yuva Krida aur Khel Abhiyan (PYKKA) into the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), which eventually merged into today's Khelo India mission. NADA Strengthening: The 12th Plan was the era when NADA (established 2005) was pushed to align with the WADA Code, laying the foundation for its current statutory status under the 2022 Act. Sports for Development: 12th Plan for the first time argued that sports is not just for medals but a tool for Social Inclusion and reducing "LWE/Terrorism" influence in vulnerable youth (e.g., Peace through Sports in J&K). Interview Ready: "The 12th Plan’s most significant legacy was the 'Pyramid Structure' of sports. It recognized that we cannot produce Olympic champions without a base of millions playing at the Panchayat level. Today’s Khelo India successes in shooting and wrestling are the direct result of the decentralization strategy first operationalized in the 12th Plan."
Analyze the main administrative, financial, and ethical reasons highlighting the need for sports reforms in India.	Administrative Issues: Sexual Harassment: High-profile protests (e.g., 2023 Wrestlers' protest) highlighting lack of safety. Lack of Professionalism: Fiefdoms of politicians and bureaucrats in sports bodies. Unclear Roles: Overlapping jurisdictions between National, State, and District levels. Financial Issues: Concentration of funds in Cricket (80%+) while other sports languish. Unethical Practices: Doping scandals (e.g., 2018 Commonwealth Games) and age-fudging. Regional Skew: 95% of girls have no access to sports facilities in many regions (CRY Study).
Detail the regulatory framework governing sports bodies and anti-doping in India.	National Sports Development Code 2011: Minimum standards for recognition and funding by the Sports Ministry. National Anti-Doping Act 2022: Statutory status for NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency). Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act 2013: Mandatory ICC (Internal Complaints Committee) in all 30 National Sports Federations (currently failing in 15).
Identify key challenges in sports participation and suggest way forward reforms under the 2nd ARC & 2017 Draft Code, listing Mains keywords.	Hobby vs. Profession: Academic pressure and low success rates prevent sports from being a primary career choice. Religious/Cultural Barriers: Attire requirements in athletics/swimming vs. traditional values. Infrastructure Deficit: World-class stadiums in cities but "resource deserts" in rural areas. Proposed Way Forward: Bottom-Up Approach: Reforming district and state bodies first. Professional Management: Separating governance (oversight) from management (operations). Transparency: Mandatory public disclosures for administrative and selection decisions. Sports Legislation: A comprehensive National Sports Law to replace ad-hoc codes. Key Phrases for Mains: Professionalism; Sports Economy ($100B); NADA Statutory Body; PoSH Compliance; Resource Deserts; Hobby vs. Career; Transparency-Saturated.
Summarize the way forward for sports governance.	- Moving from "Fiefdoms of Power" to "Athlete-Saturated & Integrity-Verified Sports Governance Saturation."

- E-sports recognised under National Sports Governance Act, 2025 as a legitimate competitive activity based on prize money, distinct from real-money games of chance. - Social/casual gaming is treated as recreational and educational, promoted by the government with budgetary allocation from the Consolidated Fund of India. - Real Money Games (RMGs) banned outright, covering Poker, Rummy, Fantasy Cricket and Ludo when played for money. - Prohibited activities under the online gaming law include offering, operating, facilitating, advertising or promoting RMGs. - Penalties: offering RMGs attracts up to 3 years jail/Rs 1 crore fine/both; advertising RMGs attracts up to 2 years jail/Rs 50 lakh fine/both; offences made cognisable and non-bailable under BNSS, 2023. - CERT-IN has been empowered to block RMG apps, with Interpol cooperation proposed for offshore operators; players/users are not penalised (per IT Minister's clarification). - The RMG ban faces a constitutional challenge on grounds that it violates Article 19(1)(g) (right to practise any trade or profession). - Betting and gambling fall under Entries 34 and 62 of List II (State List), Seventh Schedule, raising federalism concerns since Telangana (2017), Andhra Pradesh (2020) and Tamil Nadu (2022) had already banned online gambling at the State level. - National Sports Governance Act 2025 received Presidential assent, marking a major reform of India's sports administration even though sports falls under Entry 33 of the State List. - Cabinet approved National Sports Policy 2025 (superseding NSP 2001), structured around five pillars including global excellence, economic/social development via sports, sports as a people's movement, and integration with education. - The National Sports Governance Act provides for a National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, and National/Regional Sports Federations for each sport, affiliated to international bodies with state/district units governed by international charters. - A National Sports Board (NSB) will grant recognition to sports bodies and register affiliates; only recognised bodies are eligible for central government funding. - Every National Sports Body must adopt a Code of Ethics, and a recognised organisation is deemed a "public authority" under the RTI Act, 2005. - NSB composition and appointments will be decided by the Centre on recommendation of a search-cum-selection committee, with eligibility based on expertise in public administration, sports governance or sports law. - A National Sports Tribunal will adjudicate sports disputes but will not have jurisdiction over international games or internal disputes of national sports bodies. - Every national sports body must form an electoral panel to supervise elections of its affiliated units, and the Centre may exempt a body from Act provisions in public interest for the promotion of that sport.

🏅 National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025 — Five Pillars

2025

• Cabinet approved National Sports Policy 2025, superseding the National Sports Policy 2001, targeting India as a global sporting powerhouse with strong contention at the 2036 Olympic Games.
• Built on 5 pillars:
  1. Excellence on the Global Stage — grassroots-to-elite talent pipelines, adoption of sports science, medicine and technology.
  2. Sports for Economic Development — sports tourism, manufacturing ecosystem, public-private partnerships and CSR.
  3. Sports for Social Development — inclusion of women, economically weaker sections, tribal communities, persons with disabilities, and reviving indigenous/traditional games.
  4. Sports as a People's Movement — mass participation, fitness indices for schools, colleges and workplaces.
  5. Integration with Education (aligned with NEP 2020) — sports integrated into school curricula.
• Will serve as a model policy for States/UTs.

Union Budget 2026-27 — Khelo India Mission & Sports Goods Manufacturing

2026

Cue Words	Notes
Khelo India Mission — A 10-Year Sports Transformation	**Khelo India Mission** announced: a **10-year transformation** of the sports sector building on the existing Khelo India programme, covering an integrated talent-development pathway (foundational/intermediate/elite training centres), systematic coach/support-staff development, sports-science-and-technology integration, competitions/leagues, and sports infrastructure development.
Sports Goods Manufacturing Initiative	A dedicated Sports Goods manufacturing initiative positions India as a global hub for high-quality, affordable sports goods, covering equipment design and material-sciences R&D.

> **Summary**: Union Budget 2026-27's Khelo India Mission extends the existing programme into a 10-year talent-pathway and coaching-development plan, paired with a dedicated sports-goods manufacturing push aimed at making India a global hub for sports equipment.

🏟️ Cabinet Approves India's Bid for Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2030

2025

• Union Cabinet approved submission of India's bid to host CWG 2030, with Ahmedabad as the host city.
• Also approved signing the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA) and a grant-in-aid sanction for the Gujarat Government if the bid is accepted.
• Expected participation: athletes from 72 countries.
• The Narendra Modi Stadium (world's largest stadium), which already hosted the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Final, is cited as a key venue asset for the bid.