National Sports Governance Notified Rules, 2026

The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The Rules provide the framework for the inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, composition of the General Body and Executive Committee, election procedures, and disqualification criteria for members of National Sports Bodies and Regional Sports Federations.

The Rules also outline provisions for the National Sports Election Panel and further specify procedures for registration and periodic updating of affiliate units with the National Sports Board.

Among the salient provisions, these Rules provide for inclusion of at least four sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs) in the General Bodies of National Sports Bodies. For ensuring representation of women SOMs in the General Body, the Rules specifically provide for fifty per cent of women SOMs in the General Body.

For ensuring the representation of at least four women in Executive Committee of National Sports Bodies, as mandated in the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, Rules provide that every National Sports Body may reserve specific posts for women in the Executive Committee, through its bye-laws.

The Rules also prescribe the General eligibility criteria and tiered criteria for representation of SOMs in the General Body and Executive Committee of National Sports Bodies.

The Sportspersons applying to be designated as SOMs should not be less than twenty-five years of age and must have retired from active sports and should have not participated in any competitive sport event which leads to selection to represent a district, State or India for at least one year prior to the date of application.(updated on 12th january 2026)