Sports Ministry Eases Eligibility for Federation Leadership Roles

New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) — In a bid to foster younger leadership and encourage athlete-administrators, the Sports Ministry has amended the eligibility criteria for top positions in national federations. Candidates will now be required to have served just one term in the Executive Committee, instead of the previously mandated two terms. This change comes as a part of the National Sports Governance Bill, which recently passed in Parliament and is waiting for presidential assent to become an act.

The bill originally required aspirants for President, Secretary, and Treasurer positions in National Sports Federations (NSFs) to serve two terms in the Executive Committee. However, after consultations with various stakeholders, this criterion has been relaxed to a minimum of one term.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, speaking to PTI after the bill's passage, stated that the amendment aims to expand the pool of eligible candidates while maintaining a balance with the required experience. "The decision to lower the prior term requirement was informed by the need to broaden the competitive field of capable administrators," Mandaviya explained.

During the consultations, several stakeholders, including athlete representatives and smaller federations, expressed concerns that stringent eligibility rules entrenched incumbents and limited the chances for fresh leadership.

This adjustment ensures that current Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha and All India Football Federation head Kalyan Chaubey will have the opportunity to seek re-election, as both have served one term in their respective Executive Committees.

The revised rule also enables presidents, secretaries, and treasurers from state bodies to vie for leadership roles in NSFs, thus broadening the scope of competition during elections.

Minister Mandaviya emphasized that reducing the minimum term in the Executive Committee enables a wider talent pool without sacrificing continuity and experience. "Talented administrators and former athletes with potential for strong governance were often unable to contest because they hadn't served a full term previously," he said.

The amendment strikes a balance by retaining some experience requirement to preserve continuity and institutional memory but lowering the threshold to invite broader participation. This change aims to infuse new perspectives, promote healthy competition in leadership contests, and decrease power concentration that can stem from strict eligibility rules.

The sports bill, which had been on hold for over a decade, includes provisions for a National Sports Tribunal for efficient dispute resolution and a National Sports Election Panel to oversee NSF elections, often fraught with controversies.

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