Abhinav Bindra-led task force flags accountability gaps in NSFs

NEW DELHI: The Abhinav Bindra-led nine-member task force, which reviewed India’s sports governance, has sharply criticised national sports federations (NSFs), saying they lack basic institutional mechanisms and often fail on athlete welfare.

It concluded that the “absence of functional separation between governance and operations has led to blurred lines of accountability, weak transparency and minimal professionalisation”. Calling the current NSF model “predominantly statutory and compliance-focused”, the panel said it frequently sidelines strategic planning, athlete welfare and the wider promotion of sport.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In its 170-page report submitted to the sports ministry, the task force said reforms are needed to align NSFs with global standards.“There’s an urgent need for reforms in Indian NSFs to bring them in line with global standards. Without clear role separation, professional leadership, independent oversight, and structured athlete representation, governance risks remaining compliance-oriented rather than strategic and athletecentred,” the report said.

The panel also recommended moving to a “competency-based leadership model, backed by targeted training and capacity-building”. It called for “institutionalising digital tools” and integrating sports science to boost transparency ,” it said. Contrasting Indian NSFs with global best practices, the report said leading National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) use advanced governance frameworks that deliberately separate governance and operations.