Government passes National Sports Governance Bill 2025 centralizing sports control, exempting cricket board from RTI transparency

The government passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 through the Lok Sabha despite opposition requests for referral to a parliamentary committee for detailed review. The opposition criticized the bill for causing extreme centralization of sports administration and alleged preferential treatment for the national cricket board, exempting it from transparency laws like the Right to Information Act. The bill, described by the Sports Minister as a major reform, was passed amid protests and without extensive consultation. The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill was also passed simultaneously by voice vote.