15 June 2026·PIB

Union Government Constitutes Search-cum-Selection Committee for National Sports Board Under NSG Act, 2025

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1. At a Glance

National Sports Board (NSB) — central recognition and compliance authority for National Sports Bodies (NSBs), constituted under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 [2][3].
Union Government on 15 June 2026 notified the Search-cum-Selection Committee that will recommend a panel of names for Chairperson and Members of the NSB [1].
Relevance: governance reform in Indian sports administration, statutory replacement of the older non-statutory National Sports Development Code (2011) regime, examinable for GS-II (statutory bodies) and current affairs.

15 June 2026: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports constituted the 5-member Search-cum-Selection Committee under the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026, headed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan [1].

11 Aug 2025: National Sports Governance Bill passed by Lok Sabha [2].
12 Aug 2025: Passed by Rajya Sabha [2].
18 Aug 2025: Received Presidential assent → became NSG Act, 2025 [2].
Select provisions of the Act notified for commencement via PIB notification [2].
2026: Three sets of rules drafted — NSB Rules, NSB Rules, NS Tribunal Rules — under the Act [2][3].
National Sports Board Rules, 2026 and National Sports Tribunal Rules, 2026 notified [2].
NSB (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 notified [2].

Parent ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports [1].
Enabling Act: National Sports Governance Act, 2025 [1][2].
Enabling subordinate rules: National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 [1].
Committee strength: 5 members [1].
Chairperson: Dr. T.V. Somanathan, Cabinet Secretary [1].
Members:
Shri Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports) [1].
Lt General (Retd) Harpal Singh — Indian Olympic Association nominee / Sports Administrator [1].
Shri Gagan Narang — National Sports Awardee [1].
Ms. N. Kunjurani Devi — National Sports Awardee [1].
Mandate: Recommend a panel of names for Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board [1].
NSB composition (per Act): A Chairperson + 2 Members, appointed by Central Government from the SCSC's recommended panel [2].
NSB function: Grant recognition to National Sports Bodies; ensure compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards [2].

Legal / Constitutional
Statutory base — NSG Act, 2025; subordinate rule-making under the Act delegated to Centre [1][2].
Replaces the ad-hoc, executive-instruction-based Sports Code, 2011 regime with a statutory authority [2].
Administrative / Governance
Search-cum-Selection model mirrors appointment processes used for CIC, CVC, Lokpal — reinforces a collegium-like vetting layer [1].
Inclusion of an IOA nominee + two sports awardees balances bureaucratic dominance with athlete/peer representation [1].
Ethical / Accountability
NSB is empowered to enforce ethical and financial compliance on NSFs, addressing long-standing concerns over autocratic federation chiefs, opaque elections, sexual-harassment cases (e.g., WFI) [2].
Federal
"Sports" is a State List subject (Entry 33, List II), yet recognition of national-level federations and Olympic participation are de facto Union concerns — Act asserts Union role over national bodies without trenching on state sport [2].

National Sports Governance Act, 2025; assent 18 Aug 2025 [2].
Implementing ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (not Ministry of Home/Education) [1].
NSB composition: 1 Chairperson + 2 Members [2].
SCSC strength: 5 members [1].
SCSC Chairperson is the Cabinet Secretary ex officio (Dr. T.V. Somanathan in 2026) [1].
Secretary (Sports) sits on the SCSC [1].
One IOA-nominated sports administrator on SCSC [1].
Two National Sports Awardees on SCSC: Gagan Narang (shooting) and N. Kunjurani Devi (weightlifting) [1].
Rules name: National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 [1].
The Act also creates a National Sports Tribunal [2].
NSB grants recognition to National Sports Bodies [2].
Act passed in Lok Sabha on 11 Aug 2025, Rajya Sabha on 12 Aug 2025 [2].

GS-II: "Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies"; "Government policies and interventions in various sectors."
GS-II: "Appointment to various Constitutional/statutory posts" — search-cum-selection mechanism.
Possible question stems:
"Critically examine how the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 seeks to overhaul the regulation of sports federations in India."
"Search-cum-selection committees have become the default mode of appointment to statutory bodies in India. Discuss with reference to the National Sports Board."
"Sports is a State subject, yet Parliament has enacted the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. Examine the constitutional basis and federal implications."

National Sports Tribunal — sibling adjudicatory body under the same Act.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) — recognised umbrella body; nominee on SCSC.
National Sports Development Code, 2011 — predecessor non-statutory regime.
Khelo India & TOPS schemes — operational arms of the Sports Ministry.
Lokpal / CVC / CIC selection committees — comparative collegium models.
WADA & NADA Act, 2022 — parallel anti-doping statutory framework.
Entry 33, List II (State List) — federalism angle on sports.
Cabinet Secretary's role — ex officio chair of multiple high-level panels.

Confusing the National Sports Board (recognition body) with the National Sports Tribunal (adjudicatory) or SAI (Sports Authority of India — executive).
Treating the Act as 2024 — the year is 2025.
Assuming the Sports Minister chairs the SCSC — it is the Cabinet Secretary.
Mixing up the NSB Rules, 2026 with the NSB (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 — distinct subordinate legislation.
Calling NSB a "constitutional body" — it is statutory.
Forgetting that sports is constitutionally a State List subject (Entry 33).

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