Section 8 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025
- (1)The Board shall have the power to grant Board recognition to any sports organisation as a National Sports Body.
- (2)Any sports organisation desirous of obtaining Board recognition as a National Sports Body under this section shall apply to the Board in such form and manner and containing such particulars, as may be specified by regulations.
- (3)No sports organisation shall be recognised under sub-section (1) unless such organisation,---
- (a)is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or under the Societies Registration Act of a State; or
- (b)is a not-for-profit company incorporated under section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013); or
- (c)is a trust created under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 (2 of 1882) or under the Trusts Act of a State; and
- (d)complies with such other criteria and conditions as may be specified by regulations and having the sole object of the development of sports.
- (4)The Board recognition granted under this section shall be renewed periodically at such intervals and in accordance with such procedure as may be specified by regulations.
- (5)All sports organisations recognised as National Sports Bodies by the Central Government before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to have Board recognition under this Act and the provisions of this Act shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such organisation.
- (6)All affiliate units of National Sports Bodies shall ensure that they are registered with the Board, subject to such conditions and in such manner, as may be prescribed.
- (7)The Board, subject to the prior approval of the Central Government, shall also have the power to recognise sports organisations participating in sports governance, athlete support and welfare, as National Sports Promotion Organisation.
- (8)The eligibility criteria for Board recognition and the manner of governance and functioning of the National Sports Promotion Organisations shall be such as may be specified by regulations: Provided that a National Sports Promotion Organisation recognised by the Central Government before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to have been recognised as such under this Act and the provisions of this Act shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to such organisation: Provided further that the Board recognition granted under this sub-section shall be renewed periodically at such intervals and in accordance with such procedure as may be specified by regulations.
Summary
- The National Sports Board has the power to officially recognize sports organizations as National Sports Bodies.
- To qualify for this recognition, an organization must be a registered society, a non-profit company, or a trust, and its only purpose must be developing sports.
- Organizations that the Central Government already recognized before this law took effect are automatically considered recognized by the Board under the new rules.
- Local, district, and state branches of recognized national bodies are required to register themselves with the Board.
- With the Central Government's approval, the Board can also recognize groups that focus on sports governance or athlete welfare as National Sports Promotion Organisations.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. Can a regular, profit-making business be recognized as a National Sports Body?
No, the organization must be a registered society, a non-profit company, or a trust.
2. Does recognition last forever once it is granted?
No, the recognition must be periodically renewed following a procedure that the Board will specify in its regulations.
3. What happens to a sports federation that was recognized by the government five years ago?
It is automatically considered to have Board recognition under the new law, and it must now follow the new rules.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 8 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what specific legal structures are required for an organization to be granted Board recognition as a National Sports Body?
Q2.Under Section 8 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, what must be the exclusive objective of an organization seeking recognition as a National Sports Body?
Q3.Under Section 8 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, how does the Act treat a sports federation that already held recognition from the Central Government before this Act commenced?
Q4.Under Section 8 of The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, the Board has the power to recognize National Sports Promotion Organisations under sub-section 7. However, what condition from elsewhere in Section 8 must the Board secure before granting this specific type of recognition?