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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Key highlights of Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024
Why in the News?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released the Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 for public comments and suggestions.
Draft National Sports Governance Bill, 2024: Key Features
| Details | |
| Sports Regulatory Board of India | • Central regulatory authority overseeing National Sports Federations (NSFs). • Responsible for granting recognition to NSFs, ensuring governance, financial, and ethical standards are followed. • Flexible and autonomous in regulating sports governance without a fixed formula for NSF recognition. |
| Governance Structure for Sports Bodies | • Applies to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), and NSFs. • Limits Executive Committees (ECs) to 15 members. • Leadership positions open to citizens with usual terms and conditions. • Encourages NSFs to hire full-time salaried management, led by a CEO. |
| Ethical and Governance Standards | • Mandatory Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions at the NOC, NPC, and NSF levels. • Aligns with international standards to help India host global events like the Olympics. |
| Athletes Commissions | • Required in NOC, NPC, and all NSFs. • Provides athletes a platform to raise concerns and participate in decision-making. • Government to provide additional funding. |
| Athlete Representation in Governance | • At least 10% of voting members in the General Body of NOC, NPC, and NSFs must be sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs). • At least 2 SOM representatives (one male, one female) must serve on the Executive Committee. |
| Safe Sports Policy | • Introduces a Safe Sports Policy to protect athletes, especially minors and women, from harassment and abuse. • Strict adherence to the POSH Act. |
| National Sports Promotion Organisations (NSPOs) | • Guidelines for recognizing and regulating NSPOs to support sports governance, athlete development, and sports promotion. |
| Appellate Sports Tribunal | • Handles sports-related disputes, reducing the burden on civil courts. • Provides faster, cheaper, and efficient dispute resolution. |
| Ad-hoc Normalisation Committees | • The Sports Regulatory Board can form these committees in cases of non-compliance or suspension of sports federations. |
| Global Anti-Doping and Ethical Standards | • Emphasizes anti-doping measures and compliance with international standards, positioning India as a clean host for global events. |
| Public Accountability and Transparency | • NOC, NPC, and NSFs subject to the RTI Act with exclusions for performance and medical data, ensuring transparency in sports governance. |
| Inclusivity and Gender Representation | • At least 30% of the members of Executive Committees and other governing bodies must be female, promoting gender equality in sports. |
| Sports Election Panel | • IOA, PCI, and NSFs must engage electoral officers from the Sports Election Panel to ensure free and fair elections. |
| Use of National Name and Insignia | • Only recognized sports bodies will be allowed to use the Indian Flag or national names. • Violations can result in fines up to Rs 10 lakhs or imprisonment for up to one year. |
Significance of the Bill:
- The National Sports Governance Bill, 2024 is significant as it aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in sports governance while ensuring the welfare of athletes.
- It establishes regulatory frameworks and ethical standards that align India’s sports ecosystem with global practices, fostering a more efficient, fair, and athlete-centric sports environment.
PYQ:[2014] An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation’s glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement. |
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