Lok Sabha Question No. 421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: National Sports Awards
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Amol Ramsing Kolhe, DNV Senthilkumar. S., Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare, Supriya Sadanand Sule, Kuldeep Rai Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 421 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2021

## National Sports Awards

421.  DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

DR. DNV SENTHILKUMAR. S.:

DR. SUBHASH RAMRAO BHAMRE:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA:

## Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  number  of  sportspersons  who  have  been shortlisted and given Khel Ratna National Sports Awards for the year 2021 by the Selection Committee;
- (b)  the  details  of  norms  formulated/criteria  fixed  for  selection  of sportspersons for receiving National Sports Awards;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  also  awarded  special  honours  and cash award to sportspersons who have brought glory to the country;
- (d) if so, the amount  of cash  award  announced  and  given  to sportspersons during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (e) whether the Government is providing any assistance for livelihood to  sportsperson  after  their  retirement  or  at  elderly  age,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(f) the details of facilities provided to sports persons under Khelo India Programme during each of the last three years and the current year?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR]

- (a)  Sir,  the  details  of  sportspersons  who  have  been  given  the  Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for the year 2021 are:
- (b):  The  details  of  norms  formulated/criteria  fixed  for  selection  of sportspersons  for  receiving  various  National  Sports  Awards  are  at Annexure-I.

|   S. No. | Name of the sportsperson (S/Shri)   | Discipline     |
|----------|-------------------------------------|----------------|
|        1 | Neeraj Chopra                       | Athletics      |
|        2 | Ravi Kumar                          | Wrestling      |
|        3 | Ms Lovlina Borgohain                | Boxing         |
|        4 | Sreejesh P. R.                      | Hockey         |
|        5 | Ms Avani Lekhara                    | Para Shooting  |
|        6 | Sumit Antil                         | Para Athletics |
|        7 | Pramod Bhagat                       | Para Badminton |
|        8 | Krishna Nagar                       | Para Badminton |
|        9 | Manish Narwal                       | Para Shooting  |
|       10 | Ms Mithali Raj                      | Cricket        |
|       11 | Sunil Chhetri                       | Football       |
|       12 | Manpreet Singh                      | Hockey         |

(c)  and  (d):  Yes,  the  Ministry  of  Youth  Affairs  &  Sports  gives  cash awards  to  sportspersons  for  their  winning  medals  in  international sports events in the form of incentive under the 'Cash Awards to medal winners in international sports events and their coaches' scheme.

The amount of cash award given to sportspersons during each of the last three years and the current year (as on 26.11.2021) is :

|   S. No. | Year    |   Number of sportspersons given cash award | Total amount of cash award (in crore Rs.)   |
|----------|---------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
|        1 | 2018-19 |                                        307 | Rs. 24.86 crore                             |
|        2 | 2019-20 |                                        599 | Rs. 44.96 crore                             |
|        3 | 2020-21 |                                        393 | Rs. 15.48 crore                             |
|        4 | 2021-22 |                                         74 | Rs. 16.41 crore                             |

- (e)  Yes,  sir.  This  Ministry  is  providing  assistance  for  livelihood  to sportspersons  after  their  retirement  in  the  form  of  monthly  pension under the scheme 'Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons'.

Under  the  scheme,  sportspersons  who  are  Indian  citizens  and have  won  medals  in  Olympic  Games,  Commonwealth  Games,  Asian Games  and  World  Cup  /  World  Championship  (in  Olympic  and  Asian Games disciplines) and Paralympic Games, are given lifelong monthly pension ranging from Rs. 12,000/- to 20,000/-, after they attain the age of 30 years or retire from active sports, whichever is later. The pension payments are made through Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) of India, for  which  Ministry  purchases  annuities  for  individual  pensioners  by making onetime lump sum payment to LIC.

At present, 821 sportspersons are getting lifelong pension under the scheme.

- (f)        Under  the  Khelo  India  Scheme  implemented  by  the  Sports Authority  of  India  (SAI),  there  are  various  verticals  which  provide elaborate facilities to sportspersons:
- (i) The 'Talent Search and Development' verticals of the Scheme is for identification  and  nurturing  sporting  talent  to  attain  excellence  at international levels.

(ii)  As  of  now,  2964  Khelo  India  Athletes  (KIAs)  selected  in  21 disciplines including para sports are being trained at 237 academies accredited  across  the  country,  under  the  'Support  to  National  / Regional / State Sports Academies' vertical of the Scheme.  A sum of Rs.6.28  lakh  per  annum  per  athlete  is  being  provided  to  these academies as assistance. (iii)  28 centres in 27 states / UTs are being upgraded to international standard  with  financial  support  for  manpower,  sports  equipment, sports science etc. under the vertical 'State Level Khelo India Centres' of the Scheme as 'Khelo India States Centre of Excellence'. (iv) All centres notified as Khelo India Centres are eligible to receive Rs.5 lakh per discipline as one time grant and Rs.5 lakh per discipline as  recurring  grant.    As  of  now,  453  Khelo  India  Centres  across  the country have been established. (v)  Khelo  India  Scheme  also  promotes  rural  /  indigenous  and  tribal games  providing  support  to  Mallakhamb,  Kalaripayyattu,  Gatka  and Thang-Ta,  and  283  medal  winners  of  these  games  have  received scholarship (Rs.10 lakh per month per athlete) until the first quarter of the current year. (vi)  267  infrastructure  projects  for  sports  have  also  been  sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme all over the country.

****

## ANNEXURE-I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 421 for answer on 30.11.2021 regarding National Sports Awards by DR. AMOL RAMSING  KOLHE,  DR.  DNV  SENTHILKUMAR.  S.,  DR.  SUBHASH  RAMRAO BHAMRE,  SHRI  SUNIL  DATTATRAY  TATKARE,  SHRIMATI  SUPRIYA  SULE, SHRI KULDEEP RAI SHARMA.

- (A)  Scheme  for  the  Dhyan  Chand  Khel  Ratna  Award  (Amended  as  on 6.8.2021):

The spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson  over  a  period  of  four  years  immediately  preceding  the  year during which award is to be given shall be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for excellence in Sports & Games at international level i.e. Olympic / Asian / Commonwealth / World Games / Championships / World Cup and equivalent recognized international tournaments. During the years  when  Olympic  Games,  Commonwealth  and  Asian  Games  are  held, achievements of the sportspersons in these Games and other abovementioned  tournaments  upto  the  conclusion  of  the  Olympic  Games  / Commonwealth  Games  /  Asian  Games,  as  the  case  may  be,  will  also  be considered.

(B) Scheme for the Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in sports and games (amended as on 7.9.2018)

To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not only good performance over the previous four years at the International level but also should  have  shown  qualities  of  leadership,  sportsmanship  and  a  sense  of discipline. During the years when Olympic Games, Commonwealth and Asian Games  are  held,  achievements  of  the  sportspersons  in  these  Games  and other international tournaments upto the conclusion of the Olympic Games / Commonwealth  Games  /  Asian  Games,  as  the  case  may  be,  will  also  be considered.

The  Government  will  only  consider  conferring  Arjuna  Award  in  the disciplines falling under following categories:

- a)        Olympic  Games  / Asian Games / Commonwealth Games / World Cup  /  Word  Championship  disciplines  and  cricket  or  any  equivalent recognized international Tournament.
- b)      Indigenous Games.
- c)      Sports for physically challenged.

(C)  Scheme  for  Dronacharya  Award  for  outstanding  coaches  in  Sports  and Games (amended as on 7.9.2018):

To be eligible for the award, coach, whether he / she works full time or part time as coach, he / she should have produced outstanding achievement over a period of four years immediately preceding the year in which the award is to  be  given.  During  the  years  when  Olympic  Games,  Commonwealth  and Asian Games are held, achievements of the sportspersons, who have been imparted coaching, upto conclusion of these Games will also be considered. Nominated coach will have to submit details of periods for which he / she coached the disciple(s) in  question  against whose  performance  he /  she is seeking the Award. The Ministry reserves the right to seek affidavit from the sportsperson  concerned  where  it  is  found  that  more  than  one  coach  is claiming credit for achievements of a sportsperson.

For 2 awards earmarked for lifetime contribution in coaching, achievements  of  the  coach  in  producing  outstanding  sportspersons  over  a period of 20 years or more will be taken into account.

Sportspersons  who  have  already  been  conferred  with  Dhyanchand Award will not be eligible to apply for Dronacharya Award.

- (D)  Scheme  for  the  Dhyanchand  Award  for  Lifetime  achievement  in  sports and games (amended as on 03.02.2016):

To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not only good performance  at  international  level but also  should  have  continued  to contribute  to  promotion  of  sports  in  his  individual  capacity  even  after  his career  as  a  sportsperson  is  over.  A  sportsperson  should  also  have  shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and sense of discipline.

Sportspersons  who  have  already  been  conferred  either  with  Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (earlier Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna), Arjuna Award or Dronacharya Award will not be eligible to apply for Dhyanchand Award.

***