Complying With The National Sports Development Code Of India, 2011

In the recent years, there have been many instances where national sports governing bodies were de-recognized for not complying with the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011 (Code). The Code is a collection of various documents issued by the Government over the past few decades concerning a wide range of subjects related to sports at the national and international level. The following is an attempt to demystify the major provisions of the Code that apply to sports governing bodies.¹

What is the legal status of the Code?

The Code was notified by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India (Government) in 2011, with an aim of bringing together all notifications and instructions pertaining to good governance of National Sports Federations. The Code supersedes of all earlier instructions on the subject. Various High Courts and the Supreme Court have upheld the binding nature of the provisions of the Code.²