In a significant relief for the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the Sports Ministry has amended the provision related to RTI (Right to Information) in the National Sports Administration Bill.
Sports News: The Ministry of Sports, Government of India, has made a significant amendment to the National Sports Administration Bill, clarifying that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will now not come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. This decision came after the Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on July 23, 2025.
Clause 15(2) of the bill states that only those recognized sports organizations that are dependent on government aid or grants will be considered public authorities under the RTI Act, 2005. This directly implies that sports organizations that operate autonomously and are not dependent on government resources will be outside the scope of RTI.
Major Relief for BCCI
The BCCI has been opposing being brought under RTI for several years. The board argued that it does not receive government assistance like other National Sports Federations (NSFs) and therefore, bringing it under RTI would be unjustified. Now, this amended provision of the bill has put an end to these disputes. A government source informed that the purpose of this amendment was to clarify the definition of "public authority" under RTI. If this clarity was not provided, legal objections could have been raised on the bill, and it could have been challenged in court.
BCCI Will Have to Register as an NSF
According to the Sports Ministry, the scope of RTI will be limited to those organizations that receive government funding or assistance – this assistance may not only be financial but may also be in the form of infrastructure, facilities or services. This means that if a national federation does not take government funding, but government resources are used in its events or activities, then RTI may apply to it.
Although the BCCI has said that it will study the bill before making a formal comment on it, according to the proposed law, cricket will now have to be registered as a National Sports Federation (NSF). The reason for this is that cricket has been included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under the T20 format. This step will promote the participation of cricket in the Olympic movement and will require the BCCI to operate in accordance with international standards.
Proposal to Establish a National Sports Tribunal
Another important aspect of the bill is the establishment of a National Sports Tribunal, which will have powers similar to a civil court. This tribunal will settle disputes related to selection, discipline, elections, and disputes between players and sports federations. Its decisions can only be challenged in the Supreme Court of India.
Until now, the maximum age to contest elections in the National Sports Code was fixed at 70 years. But under the new bill, if the regulations of the international sports body allow it, individuals aged 70 to 75 years have also been given exemption to contest elections. This provision is a relief for many senior administrators, who will now be able to play an active role.
