Centre Constitutes National Sports Board Selection Panel
Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan to head committee for selecting Chairperson and Members of National Sports Board
- Centre constitutes Search-cum-Selection Committee under NSG Act, 2025
- Cabinet Secretary Dr T.V. Somanathan appointed Chairperson
- Olympic medalist Gagan Narang and sports icon N. Kunjurani Devi among members
- Panel to recommend Chairperson and two Members of National Sports Board
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th June: The Union Government has constituted the Search-cum-Selection Committee for the National Sports Board under the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act (NSG), 2025, setting in motion the process for establishing the country’s apex sports governance authority.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the committee has been formed under the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026.
The five-member committee will be headed by Cabinet Secretary Dr T.V. Somanathan as Chairperson.
Other members include Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, Lt Gen (Retd) Harpal Singh representing the Indian Olympic Association as a sports administrator, Olympic medal-winning shooter Gagan Narang, and former weightlifting champion and National Sports Awardee N. Kunjurani Devi.
The Search-cum-Selection Committee has been entrusted with recommending a panel of suitable candidates for the posts of Chairperson and two Members of the National Sports Board.
The selected candidates are expected to possess ability, integrity and standing, along with expertise or practical experience in public administration, sports governance, sports law and related fields.
The National Sports Board, created under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, will serve as the central authority responsible for granting board recognition to National Sports Bodies.
The Board will also oversee compliance with governance, financial management and ethical standards across sports federations and governing institutions.
Officials said the formation of the selection committee marks a key milestone in implementing the new sports governance framework aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and professionalism in sports administration.
The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, is considered one of the most significant reforms in India’s sports ecosystem, introducing a structured regulatory framework for sports bodies and strengthening institutional oversight.
The constitution of the Search-cum-Selection Committee is expected to accelerate the operationalisation of the National Sports Board and lay the foundation for improved governance standards across Indian sports.
