Lok Sabha Question No. 1119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Sports as Career Option
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Upendra Singh Rawat

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1119 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2022

Sports as Career Option

1119. SHRI UPENDRA SINGH RAWAT:

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

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to encourage the younger generations to take sports as a career option; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken and achievements made so far, in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

- (a) &  (b)  Sports,  being  a  State  Subject,  the  responsibility  for promotion and development of sports, including increased participation  of  youth  in  sports  and  provide  requisite  sports facilities,  rests  primarily  with  State/UT  Government.  The  Central Government supplements the efforts of the State/UT Governments. The recruitment of meritorious sportspersons under sports quota is done as per the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel & Training from time to time which are applicable to the Central Government Ministries / Departments / organisations.

In the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, to encourage the younger generation to take sports as a career option, the Sports Authority

of India (SAI) provides support to sports persons (active/retired) by recruiting them in the coaching cadre, which is a separate cadre for coaches. All the coaches recruited in SAI are thus sportspersons. Out of the total 2498 sanctioned posts in SAI, 1524 are sportspersons  by  virtue  of  their  engagement  as  coaches.  Out  of these, 5% (23 posts) are reserved for Olympians, and 1% (5 posts) for Paralympians at the entry Grade, i.e., Level-6 of the 7th Central Pay  Commission;  3%  (12  posts)  are  reserved  for  Medal  Winning Olympians or those who have represented in 02 Olympic Games; and 2% (8 posts) are for medal winning Paralympians in the grade of Coach (Level-10).

Further, the Government has launched the Khelo India Scheme with the twin objectives of mass  participation  and  promotion of excellence  in  sports.  Various  programmes  have  been  launched under this Scheme to promote sports and improve the level of sports and  infrastructural  facilities,  including  stadiums,  playing  fields, tracks and sports training in the country to encourage the younger generations to take sports as a career option.

Under  the  "Khelo  India  Centres  (KIC)  and  Sports  Academies" vertical  of  the  Khelo  India  Scheme,  past  Champion  Athletes  are hired  as  coaches  at  the  district-level  Khelo  India  Centres  (KICs) across the country. They are paid a remuneration of Rs. 3 lakh per annum. As of now, 358 Past Champion Athletes have been engaged in the various KICs.

Also,  the  scheme  of  Special  Awards  to  Winners  in  International Sports Events and their Coaches aims to encourage and motivate/incentivize outstanding sportspersons for higher achievements  and  to  attract  the  younger  generation  to  take  up sports as a career. Under this scheme, sportspersons are given an amount ranging from a minimum of Rs. 1 lakh to a maximum of Rs. 75 lakh.

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