The Sports Ministry has made it clear that it would prefer the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to conduct its upcoming September elections under the National Sports Governance Act, now a law after President Droupadi Murmu signed it.
Yet, if the Act’s detailed regulations aren’t ready in time, BCCI may fall back on the Supreme Court–approved Lodha Committee norms. A government source confirmed to Business Standard that while the ministry hopes the new legislation is fully functional within six months, the guidelines should ideally be notified much sooner to ensure compliance.
What change does Sports Governance Act bring?
One of the key shifts with the new law is the adjustment of age limits for office-bearers. Under Lodha, the cap is 70 years. The new Act permits individuals aged between 70 and 75 to stand for election, as long as their international federation’s rules allow it; for example, the ICC imposes no age restrictions.
Roger Binny, BCCI’s incumbent president, recently crossed the age threshold; his future in office now hinges on which rulebook governs the elections.
“Ideally the elections should be held as per the act but in case the rules are not notified in time, they may go ahead as per Lodha Committee recommendations,” the source said. “Once the rules are notified, all NSFs, including the BCCI, will have to hold elections as per its norms.”
The National Sports Governance Act represents the most sweeping reform of Indian sports administration in recent memory. It introduces a National Sports Board empowered to grant or revoke recognition to national sporting bodies, mandates transparent electoral procedures, and requires adherence to ethics and athlete welfare standards. Equally massive is the inclusion of BCCI under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which forces the otherwise insulated cricket body to operate with greater public accountability.
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