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Core Purpose

The Central Government makes the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (o), (q) and (t) of sub-section (2) of section 31 of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (25 of 2025).

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Department of Sports), through G.S.R. 405(E) dated 22nd May, 2026, published the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026, which came into force on their publication in the Official Gazette on May 25, 2026. These rules, enacted by the Central Government, define key terms such as the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, Chairperson, Member, Search-cum-Selection Committee, and the National Sports Tribunal constituted under section 17(1) of the Act. The rules stipulate that the Chairperson holds office for five years or until 70 years of age, and Members for five years or until 67 years. Selection criteria for appointment and re-appointment, managed by the Search-cum-Selection Committee, require candidates to meet conditions under section 17(2) and (3) of the Act, be medically fit, and free from prejudicial financial interests. Re-appointment allows one additional term, with experience in the Tribunal receiving additional weightage. Serving Judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts, or members of organised services, must resign or take voluntary retirement before joining. Resignation from the Tribunal requires three months' notice, unless permitted sooner. Vacancies are to be referred to the Search-cum-Selection Committee within one month of occurrence or three months before tenure end. The Chairperson receives a fixed monthly salary of rupees two lakh fifty thousand, while Members receive rupees two lakh twenty-five thousand. Allowances and benefits align with Group 'A' Government of India officers, including options for accommodation or house rent reimbursement and staff car facilities. Pension and provident fund provisions are governed by the General Provident Fund (Central Services) Rules, 1960, or the Contributory Provident Fund (India) Rules, 1962, for different categories. Leave entitlements include thirty days of earned leave and eight days of casual leave annually, regulated by the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. The Chairperson and Members must declare financial and other interests annually, as specified by the Department of Personnel and Training. Post-retirement, they face a two-year restriction from practicing before the Tribunal or accepting employment with entities governed by the Act, with exceptions for government employment as defined in section 2(45) of the Companies Act, 2013. The Tribunal is empowered to issue orders, directions, interim orders, injunctions, and stays, enforceable as civil court decrees. The Central Government may also notify a portal for digital implementation of these rules, covering dispute submission, communications, order publication, virtual hearings, and record maintenance.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-25052026-272847 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 364] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, MAY 25, 2026/JYAISTHA 4, 1948 MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (Department of Sports) NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 22nd May, 2026 G.S.R. 405(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (o), (q) and (t) of sub-section (2) of section 31 of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (25 of 2025), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement. (1) These rules may be called the National Sports Governance (National Sports Tribunal) Rules, 2026. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. Definitions. - (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, (a) "Act" means the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 (25 of 2025); (b) "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Tribunal appointed in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 17 of the Act; (c) "Member" means a Member of the Tribunal appointed in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 17 of the Act; (d) "Search-cum-Selection Committee" means the Search-cum-Selection Committee as provided under sub-section (4) of section 17 of the Act; and (e) "Tribunal" means the National Sports Tribunal constituted under sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Act. (2) Words and expressions used in these rules and not defined herein, but defined in the Act, shall have the meaning respectively assigned to them in the Act. 3. Term of office of Chairperson and Members. (1) The Chairperson shall hold office for a term of five years or till he attain the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. (2) The Members shall hold office for a term of five years or till they attain the age of sixty-seven years, whichever is earlier. 4. Selection for appointment of Chairperson and Members. (1) The Search-cum-Selection Committee shall ensure that any panel recommended by it pursuant to section 17 of the Act, is on an assessment that such persons (a) satisfy the criteria for Chairperson or Member as specified in sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 17 of the Act; (b) are declared medically fit by an authority specified by the Central Government in this behalf; and (c) do not have any financial or other interest which is likely to affect prejudicially the functions as Chairperson or Member, as the case may be. 5. Selection for re-appointment of Chairperson and Members. (1) Subject to the age-limit specified under rule 3, the Chairperson and Members shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more term. (2) An application for re-appointment shall be considered by the Search-cum-Selection Committee in the same manner determined pursuant to sub-section (5) of section 17, as that for the original appointment, preferably, along with all the persons shortlisted by such Committee. (3) While making its assessment for suitability to a post, the Search-cum-Selection Committee shall give additional weightage to the persons seeking re-appointment for their experience in the Tribunal and while doing so, shall take into account, the performance of the person while working as a Chairperson or a Member in the Tribunal. 6. Retirement or resignation from parent service on appointment as Chairperson or Member. Where the person appointed as a Chairperson or a Member is a serving Judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court or a serving Member of an organised service, he shall either resign or obtain voluntary retirement from his parent service before joining the Tribunal. 7. Resignation from the Tribunal. — (1) The Chairperson or any Member of the Tribunal may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Central Government, resign from his office at any time. (2) The Chairperson or such Member shall, unless he is permitted by the Central Government to relinquish office sooner, continue to hold office until the expiry of three months from the date of receipt of such notice or until a person duly appointed as a successor enters upon his office or until the expiry of his term of office, whichever is earlier. 8. Vacancy. The Central Government shall, within one month from the date of occurrence of any vacancy, including by reason of death, resignation or removal of the Chairperson or a Member, or within three months before the end of tenure of the Chairperson or Member, make a reference to the Search-cum-Selection Committee for filling up of the vacancy. 9. Salary of the Chairperson and Members. (1) The Chairperson shall be entitled to receive salary of rupees two lakh fifty thousand (fixed) per month. (2) Each Member, other than the Chairperson, shall be entitled to receive salary of rupees two lakh twenty- five thousand (fixed) per month. (3) In case a person appointed as the Chairperson, or Member, is in receipt of any pension, the pay of such person shall be reduced by the amount gross of pension drawn by him. 10. Allowances of the Chairperson and Members. (1) The Chairperson and Members shall be entitled to draw allowances and benefits as are admissible to a Government of India officer holding Group 'A' post carrying the same pay. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), the Chairperson and Members shall have the option to avail accommodation to be provided by the Central Government or reimbursement of house rent, in accordance with the extant rules of the Central Government. (3) The Chairperson and Members shall be entitled to the facility of staff car for journeys for official purposes in accordance with the facilities as are admissible to a Central Government officer holding Group 'A' post carrying the same pay as per the provisions of the Staff Car Rules. 11. Pension, provident fund and gratuity. — (1) Where a Chairperson or any Member, as the case may be, is a serving judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court or a person in the service of the Government, at the time of his appointment to the Tribunal (a) the service rendered by him in the Tribunal shall count for pension, to be drawn in accordance with the rules of the service or office to which he belongs; and (b) he shall also be governed by the provisions of the General Provident Fund (Central Services) Rules, 1960. (2) In all other cases, the Members shall be governed by the provisions of the Contributory Provident Fund (India) Rules, 1962. (3) Additional pension and gratuity shall not be admissible for service rendered in the Tribunal. 12. Leave. - (1) The leave sanctioning authority in case of the (a) Chairperson, shall be the Central Government; and (b) Members, shall be the Chairperson. (2) The Chairperson and the Members shall be entitled to thirty days of earned leave for every year of service. (3) Casual Leave not exceeding eight days in a calendar year may be granted to the Chairperson and the Members. (4) The payment of leave salary during leave shall be governed by rule 40 of the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. (5) The Chairperson and the Members shall be entitled to encashment of leave in respect of the earned leave standing to his credit, subject to the condition that maximum leave encashment, including the amount received at the time of retirement from previous service shall not exceed the prescribed limit under the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. 13. Declaration of financial and other interests. (1) The Chairperson and each of the Members shall, before entering upon his office, and on an annual basis, declare his assets, liabilities, financial and other interests, in the form and manner as specified by the Department of Personnel and Training, in respect of the Central Government employees and undertake that he does not have any such financial and other interest as is likely to prejudicially affect his functions as Chairperson or Member, as the case may be. 14. Other conditions of service. — (1) The terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson, or any Member with respect to which no express provision has been made in these rules, shall be such as are admissible to a Government of India officer holding Group 'A' post carrying the same pay. (2) The Chairperson and the Members shall not (a) practice before the Tribunal, after retirement from the service of the Tribunal; (b) undertake any arbitration assignment while functioning in their respective capacities in the Tribunal; and (c) for a period of two years from the date on which they cease to hold office, accept any employment in, or connected with the management or administration of any person, National Sports Body, committee, club or association who is governed by the Act. (3) Nothing contained in clause (c) of sub-rule (2) shall apply to any employment under the Central Government, State Government, local authority, any statutory authority, any corporation established by or under any Central, State or Provincial Act, or a Government company as defined in clause (45) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013). 15. Conditions not to be varied. The salary, allowances, or the terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be, shall not be varied to his disadvantage after his appointment. 16. Oath of office and secrecy. Every person appointed as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be, shall, before entering upon his office, make and subscribe an oath of office and secrecy, in the form and manner as may be specified by the Central Government. 17. Powers of the Tribunal. (1) The Tribunal may make such orders or give such directions as may be necessary to meet the ends of justice or prevent abuse of process. (2) Subject to the provisions of section 20 of the Act, and in addition to the powers as specified in section 24 of the Act, the Tribunal shall have the power to pass an interim order, including granting an injunction or stay, after providing the parties concerned an opportunity of hearing, in respect of any proceedings under the Act. 18. Enforcement of order. — (1) Any order made by the Tribunal in accordance with the Act shall be executable in the same manner as if it were a decree of a civil court. (2) Any order made by the Tribunal in accordance with the Act shall be deemed to be a final decree on the expiry of the period allowed for preferring an appeal against such order. 19. Techno-legal measures. (1) The Central Government may notify a portal for the digital implementation of these rules, including for – (a) submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, and forms as may be specified with regard to such submissions; (b) communications from the office of the Tribunal; (c) publication of orders of the Tribunal; (d) hearings by virtual mode; and (e) maintaining a record of the cases, proceedings, orders, forms, and any other requirements under these rules. (2) After notification of the portal, the orders of the Tribunal shall be digitally signed and shall be conveyed through electronic mode to all parties. [F. No. 12-12/2025 Gov-1 (Vol-II)] KUNAL, Jt. Secy. Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. SARVESH KUMAR Digitally signed by SARVESH KUMAR SRIVASTAVA

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