National Sports Development Code of India

Why in news?

• The non-compliance with the sports code by the National Sports Federations (NSFs) has led the Delhi High Court to direct the sports ministry to withdraw monetary grants and serve a notice of suspension to all errant federations.

About National Sports Development Code of India

• The Government of India passed the National Sports Development Code of India in 2011
• 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.

What is the legal status of the Code?

• The Code was notified by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• It aims to bring 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

What entities are covered by the Code?

• The Code largely governs the functioning of national level sports governing bodies, officially termed as "National Sports Federations" (NSF).
• Under the Code, NSFs are fully accountable for the management, direction, promotion, and sponsorship of the discipline for which they are recognized by the relevant International Federation.
• Any entity that seeks to attain recognition as an NSF in the future also needs to abide by the Code.
• Such recognition is granted as per the Code. The Code also regulates certain functions of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that relate to NSFs.
• Nothing in the Code applies directly to regional or state associations, but through the rules applied on NSFs, certain obligations might be imposed indirectly on the regional/state bodies.

What is covered by the Code?

• The Code lays down eligibility conditions for recognition of NSFs, the application process and consequences for non-compliance (suspension/withdrawal).
• It also provides for other functional aspects of NSFs:
  • Elections, government funding, Long Term Development Plans (LTDP) and selection of national teams.
• It provides for the categorization of sports, cultural exchange, prevention of age fraud and sexual harassment, anti-doping compliances and procurement of sports equipment.

What are the benefits of recognition as an NSF?

• While the Code treats NSFs as autonomous bodies, government recognition is necessary for them to represent the country.
• Recognition is also necessary to obtain government funding and enjoy the various facilities/concessions that the government provides.
• NSFs officially represent the country in international sporting events or international fora and are authorized, through this recognition, to use the word "India" in its name.
• In addition to this, the government also provides funding to NSFs with recognition.
• Other financial concessions are also provided to NSFs in the form of customs duty exemptions, tax benefits and special dispensation to remit funds abroad.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding National Sports Development Code of India

1. It governs the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs)

2. While the Code treats NSFs as autonomous bodies, government recognition is necessary for them to represent the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer