Lok Sabha Question No. 1029 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1029 ANSWERED ON - 02/12/2024

Target Olympic Podium Scheme

1029. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

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

- a. the  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  under  the  Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) since its inception, year-wise;
- b. the  details  regarding  the  measures  being  taken  to  ensure  that emerging junior athletes and competitors at international events receive appropriate support through TOPS; and
- c. the  details  of  initiatives  undertaken  to  mobilize  private  sector support to supplement TOPS funding and enhance India's Olympic performance?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- a. The  details  of  the  funds  allocated  and  utilized  under  the  Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) since its inception, year-wise are given in the table below.
- b. The Athletes  under  the  TOPS  program  are  placed  either  in  the TOPS  Development  or  TOPS  Core  scheme.  TOPS  Development athletes  receive  a  monthly  Out  of  Pocket  Allowance  (OPA)  of ₹25,000,  while  TOPS  Core  athletes  receive  ₹50,000  per  month. Further, athletes  in  the  TOPS  program  receive  support  for international  training and  competition  exposure,  equipment  & coaching support, medical care, injury management, and rehabilitation, all facilitated by expert professionals. Additionally, athletes,  including  junior  athletes,  have  access  to  training  at National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs)  for various disciplines.
- c. Under the National Sports  Development  Fund (NSDF), the Government  has  been  regularly  interacting  with  the  Corporate and Public Sector Undertakings requesting them to contribute. Many corporate organizations have come forward to support for promotion of sports through Talent Identification, Talent Development,  Sporting  Excellence,  Support  to  Academics  and Scholarship  to  Talented  Athletes  under  TOPS  NSDF.  Some  of such  prominent  organizations  are:  National  Thermal  Power Corporation  Limited  (NTPC);  Rural  Electrification  Corporation Limited (REC); Coal India Ltd. (CIL); India Infrastructure Finance Company  Ltd.  (IIFCL);  Indian  Oil  Corporation  Limited  (IOCL); General  Insurance  Corporation  of  India(GIC);  Bharat  Dynamic Limited (BDL), etc.

|   Sr. No | Year    |   Funds Allocated (Rs. In crores) |   Expenditure (Rs. In crores) |
|----------|---------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|        1 | 2017-18 |                             10    |                          4.82 |
|        2 | 2018-19 |                             10    |                          8.91 |
|        3 | 2019-20 |                              8.5  |                          9.66 |
|        4 | 2020-21 |                              5.51 |                          9.11 |
|        5 | 2021-22 |                             28.08 |                         28.47 |
|        6 | 2022-23 |                             26.16 |                         27.72 |
|        7 | 2023-24 |                             20.16 |                         16.68 |
|        8 | 2024-25 |                             20.78 |                         14.5  |

NSDF  guidelines  allow  contributions  from  a  wide  range  of entities, including  statutory  bodies,  international  organizations, corporate  sectors  (both  private  and  public),  trusts,  societies, and individuals.

The inclusion  of  sports  in  Schedule  VII  of  the  Companies  Act, 2013,  provides  the  legal  basis  for  CSR  spending  on  sportsrelated activities.

Contributions to NSDF enjoy 100% tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, which incentivizes companies and individuals to contribute towards sports development.

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