Union Govt constitutes search-cum-selection committee for National Sports Board under NSG Act, 2025
New Delhi, June 15
The Union Government on Monday constituted the Search-cum Selection Committee for the National Sports Board under the National Sports Board Rules, 2026, as per the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
The Search-cum Selection Committee will be headed by Dr. T.V. Somanathan, Cabinet Secretary, as Chairperson and will consist of Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), Lt General (Retd) Harpal Singh (Indian Olympic Association), Sports Administrator, and two National Sports Awardees, namely Gagan Narang and N. Kunjurani Devi.
The aforementioned committee is tasked to recommend a panel of names for the positions of Chairperson and Two Members of the Board, from among persons of ability, integrity, and standing, having knowledge or practical experience in the field of public administration, sports governance, sports law, and other related fields.
The constitution of Search-cum-Selection Committee by the Ministry will set in motion the process of selection of Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board, which will act as the central authority responsible for granting board recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards.
The Centre had notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Board) Rules, 2026, and the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026, under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, setting up the framework for regulation and dispute resolution in Indian sports.
According to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the National Sports Board will act as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and monitoring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards. The Board will comprise a chairperson and two members appointed by the central government from a panel recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted under separate rules notified in 2026. The notified rules also define the composition of the Board, tenure of office of the Chairperson and Members, along with their salaries, allowances, service conditions, powers, and functions
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see the Cabinet Secretary heading this - at least it shows high priority. But I wish they had included more women in the committee. Just one woman out of six members? We have many capable female sports administrators. Also, the timeline for implementation feels too drawn out.
As someone who has followed Indian sports for decades, this is a welcome move. The current system of multiple federations with overlapping jurisdictions is a mess. Central authority for recognition and compliance is exactly what we need to clean up the mess. But actions speak louder than notifications - let's see how transparent the selection process actually is.
Interesting to see India finally moving towards structured sports governance. The inclusion of IOA representative and sports awardees is a good mix of administrative and practical experience. However, the real test will be in implementation and whether state-level bodies cooperate. From what I've read, past attempts at sports reform have faced resistance from entrenched interests.
About time! Indian sports needs professional management, not politicians running federations. The search-cum-selection committee composition looks decent but I worry about cronyism in the final appointments. Also, why only two members on the Board? Three people can't possibly handle governance oversight for dozens of national sports bodies. Seems understaffed from the start.
Great initiative! But I hope this committee doesn't become another 'retirement home' for bureaucrats. We need people who understand grassroots sports, not just those who sit in air-conditioned offices. The salaries and allowances mentioned in the rules should be performance-linked, not automatic. Also, how will the National Sports Tribunal work alongside existing courts? 🏏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.