Increased public funding to National Sports Federations must go hand in hand with governance reform. Analyse in light of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The revised Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) has ₹7,386.74 crore for 2026-31 [1]. The previous five-year cycle had ₹1,575 crore [2]. The National Sports Governance Act (NSGA), 2025 makes Central funds depend on recognition [5]. Together they rightly treat money and accountability as one reform.

Why money alone does not work

• Control by non-sportspersons: MPs found most NSFs were run by non-sportspersons and had no grievance redressal. Some ignored government guidelines [3].
• Weak capacity to spend: about 45% of sanctioned SAI posts are vacant, and some of the 24 National Centres of Excellence are not working [4].
• Diversion of funds: money from the National Sports Development Fund went to civil services associations and residential colonies [4].
• More discretion: each hosted event can get up to ₹50 crore. A Secretary (Sports)-led committee decides case by case, with no published formula [1].

How the NSGA links funding to governance

• Recognition decides funding: only bodies recognised by the National Sports Board can get Central funds. The Board can suspend or cancel recognition [5].
• Oversight: the Board issues ethics guidelines and can inquire into misuse of funds and athlete welfare [5].
• Settling disputes: a National Sports Tribunal has civil-court powers, and appeals go to the Supreme Court [5]. This meets the 2019 Committee's demand for a sports tribunal [3].
• Global practice: the UK gives public money only to bodies that follow its governance code [6].

Gaps and risks

• Autonomy: the Olympic Charter requires freedom from political pressure. Central directions and Board inquiries could be seen as government interference [6]. India has faced bans before: FIFA suspended AIFF in 2022, and the Wrestling Federation of India was suspended in 2023 [6].
• Federal tension: sport is in the State List, and using Article 253 as the basis for the Act is contested [6]. ANSF, a Central Sector Scheme, also bypasses the States [2].
• Capacity: the Act disciplines federations but does not fill SAI vacancies [4].

Bigger budgets and the NSGA together move NSFs from patronage towards performance-linked funding. To make this work, the Board should use published grounds that fit the Olympic Charter, and MYAS should publish a scoring formula for hosting grants. SAI vacancies should be filled within six months, as the 2025 Committee recommended [4]. Funding tied to transparent governance, not government control, can build an athlete-first system for India's 2036 ambitions. It also fits SDG 16's goal of accountable institutions.