National Sports Board and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 Notified

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, through a press release, notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026 and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026 in accordance with the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The Rules seek to strengthen governance oversight of National Sports Bodies and establish a specialised framework for sports dispute resolution. According to the Ministry, the National Sports Board will function as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards, while the National Sports Tribunal will serve as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes, aimed at ensuring independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient dispute resolution.

National Sports Board: Composition and Tenure

The Rules provide that the Central Government shall appoint a Chairperson and two Members of the National Sports Board from a panel recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted under the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026. The Chairperson and Members will hold office for a term of three years or until attaining the age of sixty-five years, whichever is earlier, and are eligible for reappointment for one additional term. During their tenure, they are prohibited from holding any position in an International Sports Body, National Sports Body, affiliated unit or National Sports Promotion Organisation.

The Rules further require the Chairperson and Members to disclose their assets, liabilities, financial interests and any other interests on an annual basis. The Central Government may remove a chairperson or Member on grounds such as insolvency, conviction involving moral turpitude, incapacity or acquisition of interests likely to prejudice the discharge of duties.

Remuneration and Service Conditions

The Chairperson may opt either for remuneration equivalent to a Secretary to the Government of India or a consolidated salary of ₹5,62,500 per month, while Members may opt for remuneration equivalent to an Additional Secretary or a consolidated salary of ₹5 lakh per month. Pension received from previous government service will be adjusted against such remuneration. The Rules also provide leave, travelling allowances, government accommodation or house rent reimbursement, and Central Government Health Scheme benefits.

Powers and Functions of the Board

The Board is required to maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel and a register of affiliate units of National Sports Bodies. Further, the Board may issue model governance guidelines and regulations, undertake consultations with stakeholders, recommend adoption of international governance standards and organise training programmes, workshops and conferences on sports governance.

The Rules also prescribe financial accountability measures, including preparation of annual statements of accounts, audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or an authorised person, and preservation of records for a minimum period of five years.

The Board will also play a central role in the recognition framework under the Act, making compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards a key consideration for recognised National Sports Bodies.

National Sports Tribunal: Appointment and Powers

The National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 establish the framework governing appointment, tenure and functioning of the Tribunal. The Chairperson and Members are to be selected through a Search-cum-Selection Committee process and must satisfy statutory eligibility requirements, be medically fit and free from conflicts of interest. The Chairperson will hold office for five years or until attaining the age of seventy years, while Members will serve for five years or until reaching sixty-seven years of age, whichever is earlier. Reappointment for one additional term is permitted.

The Rules require serving judges or government officers appointed to the Tribunal to resign or obtain voluntary retirement from their parent service before joining. The Chairperson is entitled to a fixed salary of ₹2.5 lakh per month and Members to ₹2.25 lakh per month, along with allowances, leave, accommodation and other service benefits.

The Tribunal is empowered to issue orders necessary to secure the ends of justice, prevent abuse of process and grant interim relief, including injunctions and stays. Orders of the Tribunal are enforceable in the same manner as decrees of a civil court. The prohibit the Chairperson and Members from accepting employment for two years with National Sports Bodies, clubs or organisations regulated under the Act, subject to certain government-sector exceptions.

Digital Dispute Resolution Framework

A notable feature of the Tribunal Rules is the introduction of a technology-enabled dispute resolution framework. The Central Government may notify a digital portal for filing disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, facilitating communications from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and maintenance of records. Tribunal orders are required to be digitally signed and communicated electronically to parties through the notified portal.

The Tribunal is also expected to minimise parallel proceedings across multiple forums and provide a specialised single-window mechanism for efficient, accessible and cost-effective resolution of sports disputes.