New Delhi: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday announced that the much-anticipated National Sports Governance Bill will be introduced in Parliament during the upcoming monsoon session starting July 21.
Speaking at an event organized by the Department of Youth Affairs to launch anti-drug initiatives, Mandaviya also reaffirmed that Pakistani athletes will be permitted to compete in multilateral sporting events hosted in India.
“The bill will be presented in the upcoming session of Parliament. I will share more details in the coming days,” the minister said.
The proposed legislation aims to increase accountability among sports administrators through the establishment of a regulatory board. This board will have the authority to recognize and allocate funding to National Sports Federations (NSFs) based on their adherence to good governance norms. It will also oversee compliance with high standards of governance, ethics, and financial transparency.
Additionally, the bill proposes the formation of Ethics Commissions and Dispute Resolution Commissions to bring more transparency and integrity to sports administration. The bill has been under discussion for years and has faced resistance, particularly from the Indian Olympic Association, which argues that a regulatory board may undermine its role as the apex body overseeing NSFs.
Pakistan’s Participation in India
Mandaviya also addressed the participation of Pakistani athletes amid strained diplomatic ties, especially following the April terror attack in Pahalgam. He reiterated that India will not block Pakistani teams from taking part in international events held in the country.
“Our position is consistent. We have no issue competing against Pakistan in international tournaments across any sport—cricket, hockey, or others. Bilateral matches, however, remain a separate matter governed by established policy,” he said.
Pakistan’s presence is expected in several major events hosted by India in the coming months, including the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament in Bihar (August 27–September 7), the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu (November 28–December 10), and the Junior Shooting World Cup in New Delhi (September–October).
While the Pakistan Hockey Federation has applied for clearance from its government to participate, there’s no official confirmation yet.
“We’ve informed Pakistan that visas will be granted for both the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup. It’s now up to their government to decide. As hosts, we will treat all participating teams equally,” Mandaviya said.
The decision to allow Pakistani participation aligns with the Olympic Charter, which forbids exclusion on political grounds. Violating this can jeopardize a country’s future hosting rights—something India is mindful of as it bids for the 2036 Olympic Games and the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
