Lok Sabha Question No. 4424 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Scholarship to Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4424 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2023

Scholarship To Sportspersons

4424. SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a)  whether  scholarship  is  provided  to  sportspersons  and  if  so,  the details thereof including the number of beneficiaries and the expenditure incurred, since its inception, year-wise;
- (b)  whether  there  are  provisions  for  aiding  marginalized  communities, including SCs/STs and rural candidates;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government plans to increase the number of sportspersons being provided scholarships; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a):  Yes Sir. Under Khelo India scheme, talented athletes selected from various  avenues,  like  Khelo  India  Games,  National  Championships conducted by the respective National Sports Federations (NSFs) etc. in 21 sports disciplines (including para sports) are provided sports scholarship  in  the  form  of  financial  assistance  of  Rs.  10,000  /-  per month as Out of Pocket allowance (OPA). The year-wise details of the same are given below: -

|   S.No | Financial Year      | No. of sportspersons   | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|--------|---------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
|      1 | 2431                | 9,17,40,000 /-         | 2018-19           |
|      2 | 2019-20             | 2711 /-                | 33,27,90,000      |
|      3 | 2020-21             | 3030 33,36,50,000 /-   |                   |
|      4 | 2021-22             | 2816                   | 30,88,60,000 /-   |
|      5 | 2022-23 (till date) | 2759                   | 22,84,00,000/-    |

Under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), scholarship in terms of OPA  is  being  provided  to  TOPS  athletes  at  the  rate  of  50,000/-  per month  for Core Group athletes and Rs. 25,000/per month  for Development Group athletes.

At present,98 athletes in Core Group and 165 athletes in Development Group are supported under the TOPS Scheme.The year wise details are given below: -

|   S.No | Financial Year      | No. of sportspersons   | Amount (in Rs.)   |
|--------|---------------------|------------------------|-------------------|
|      1 | 252                 | 5,94,00,000/-          | 2018-19           |
|      2 |                     | 104 5,63,00,000/-      | 2019-20           |
|      3 | 2020-21             | 387                    | 11,71,00,000/-    |
|      4 | 2021-22             | 349                    | 11,47,73,580/-    |
|      5 | 2022-23 (till date) | 263                    | 21,80,50,772/-    |

Further, there is also provision for scholarship for sportspersons under the  scheme  of  Human  Resources  Development  in  Sports  (HRDS).  The sportspersons may apply for financial assistance for Fellowship as per Para  3.1  of  the  scheme  of  HRDS.  So  far,  the  Department  has  not received  any  proposal  forscholarship  from  sportsperson  under  the scheme of HRDS.

(b) and (c): Social / Economic status is not considered as a criteria for selection of sportspersons under various schemes of this Department. Talents are identified based on their merit and potential.

(d) and  (e): Talent Identification is a continuous  process. Thus, providing  scholarships  under  the  various  Scheme  of  the  Ministry  is  a dynamic process based on the Assessment Methodology and Selection Criteria.

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