Government revises key clause in National Sports Governance Bill
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a major relief following changes to the National Sports Governance Bill 2025, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 23 during the Monsoon Session.
According to multiple reports, the Sports Ministry has amended the bill so that only sports bodies that rely on government funding or assistance will be treated as a “public authority” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This change effectively removes the BCCI — which operates without government grants — from the RTI’s scope.
The original draft of the bill had proposed bringing all recognised sports organisations under RTI, a move the BCCI had opposed. The now-omitted provision read: “A recognised sports organisation shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties and powers under this Act.”
Clearer definition of “public authority”
Supporters of the change say it brings much-needed clarity and avoids potential legal challenges.
“The amended clause defines public authority as an entity that is relying on government funds or assistance. With this amendment, there is a clear definition of what is a public authority. If this had not been done, it would have been a grey area that could have led to the bill getting held up or being challenged in court. So anything that involves public money will come under RTI. It defines the specifics.
And even if a national sports body is not taking government funds, it can still be questioned if government assistance of any kind is involved in the conduct or operation of its events. Because government assistance is not merely funds, it is also about infrastructure,” a source was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
With cricket set to feature at the 2028 Olympics in the T20 format, the BCCI will still be required to register as a National Sports Federation (NSF) once the bill becomes law. The legislation also establishes a National Sports Board (NSB) to oversee all NSFs and a National Sports Tribunal to handle disputes.
Reaction and ongoing debates
While the exemption strengthens the BCCI’s autonomy, it has reignited debates over transparency in Indian cricket administration. Critics argue that, given the BCCI’s influence and financial clout, RTI oversight could have enhanced accountability.
The change also comes amid public pressure on the board over its decision to proceed with the India vs Pakistan match at the Asia Cup 2025 on September 14 in the UAE. Calls for cancellation followed the Pahalgam attack earlier this year, but the BCCI has not indicated any change to the fixture.
