Lok Sabha Question No. 1864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Financial Assistance to Sportspersons
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

## Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports Department of Sports

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1864

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2023

## Financial Assistance to Sportspersons

1864. SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  providing  financial  assistance  to sportspersons;
- (b) if so, the details of such assistance provided during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT/Sport-wise;
- (c) the details of steps being taken by the Government to increase such financial assistance for national and international level sportspersons; and
- (d)  the  details  of  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  attract sportspersons by providing incentives to suit the present conditions?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (b) Yes Sir. The Government implements the following schemes

- for providing financial assistance to the sportspersons:
- i.The scheme of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for  Sportspersons  (PDUNWFS)  is  being  implemented  with  the objective of providing financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons/family  members  living  in  indigent  circumstances for various purposes like ameliorate condition, medical treatment, injuries, procurement of sports equipment's etc.
- The details and the number of sportspersons who have benefitted from the Fund along with the quantum of funds provided to them during each of the last three years, State/UT and sport-wise is available on the Ministry's website at https://yas.nic.in/.
- ii.Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the Government provides Out of pocket allowance (OPA) @Rs. 50,000/per month to each of the 103 Core group athletes and @Rs.25,000/to each of the 166 Development Group athletes to assist in their preparations for Olympic and Paralympic Games. The details of the expenditure incurred under TOPS during each of the last three years and the current year (as on 11.07.2023), sport-wise is given at Annexure.
- 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.  are  provided  sports  scholarship  in  the  form  of  financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 /- Per month as Out of Pocket allowance
- iii. (OPA).
- (c)  to  (d)  The  Government  implements  the  following  schemes  to increase  financial  assistance  to  national  and  international  level sportspersons and to attract sportspersons by providing incentives commensurate with the existing conditions:
- i.Scheme of Cash Awards to Winners in International sports events and their Coaches: The objective of this scheme is to incentivize the achievements of outstanding sportspersons, encourage and motivate them for higher achievements and to act as inspiring role  models  for  attracting  the  younger  generation  to  take  up sports.
- ii.National Sports Awards: The Government confers National Sports Awards under various categories like  Major Dhyan Chand Khel

Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Dhyan Chand Award,  Maulana  Abul  Kalam  Azad  Trophy  and  Rashtriya  Khel Protsahan Puraskar. The details of these awards is available on the Ministry's website at https://yas.nic.in/. iii. Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportsperson: The objective of the scheme is to provide assured monthly income through annuity to outstanding sportspersons that has become imperative due to the fact that sportspersons spend prime of their youth in pursuit of  intensive  training,  sacrificing  other  beneficial  opportunities normally  available.  The  assured  monthly  income  will  be  a compensation for the opportunities spurned by them in pursuit of their high ambition and achievement in sports. Under the scheme monthly  pension  ranging  from  Rs.  12,000/-  to  Rs.  20,000/-  is

- provided to the ex-sportsperson.

*****

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) and (B) OF THE LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  1864  FOR  ANSWER  ON 01.08.2023 'REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SPORTSPERSONS' ASKED BY SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

| TOPS Expenditure   | TOPS Expenditure   | TOPS Expenditure             | TOPS Expenditure             | TOPS Expenditure             | TOPS Expenditure             |
|--------------------|--------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| S.N.               | Sports Discipline  | 2020-21                      | 2021-22                      | 2022-23                      | 2023-24(till 11.07.2023)     |
|                    |                    | Total Sanctioned Expenditure | Total Sanctioned Expenditure | Total Sanctioned Expenditure | Total Sanctioned Expenditure |
| 1                  | Archery            | 0.76                         | 1.29                         | 1.24                         | 0.59                         |
| 2                  | Athletics          | 1.7                          | 2.66                         | 2.04                         | 0.89                         |
| 3                  | Badminton          | 2.14                         | 2.89                         | 1.48                         | 0.8                          |
| 4                  | Boxing             | 1.08                         | 1.37                         | 1.04                         | 0.27                         |
| 5                  | Cycling            | 0.1                          | 0.12                         | 0.36                         | 0.4                          |
| 6                  | Golf               | 0                            | 0.07                         | 0.24                         | 0.44                         |
| 7                  | Judo               | 0.14                         | 0.1                          | 0.18                         | 0.24                         |
| 8                  | Para Sports        | 2.57                         | 3.11                         | 4.03                         | 1.4                          |
| 9                  | Gymnastics         | 0                            | 0.01                         | 0                            | 0                            |
| 10                 | Rowing             | 0.06                         | 0.22                         | 0.26                         | 0.7                          |
| 11                 | Shooting           | 3.05                         | 3.38                         | 3.35                         | 1.27                         |
| 12                 | Table Tennis       | 0.53                         | 0.39                         | 1.15                         | 0.58                         |
| 13                 | Tennis             | 0.78                         | 0.84                         | 0.17                         | 0.1                          |
| 14                 | Weightlifting      | 0.56                         | 0.64                         | 0.92                         | 0.83                         |
| 15                 | Wrestling          | 1.4                          | 1.54                         | 2                            | 0.4                          |
| 16                 | Swimming           | 0.7                          | 0.71                         | 0.87                         | 0.22                         |

| 17    | Squash        | 0     |     0 |     0 |     0 |
|-------|---------------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| 18    | Hockey 0.09   |       |  1.59 |  0    |  0    |
| 19    | Equestrian    | 0     |  0.03 |  0.07 |  0.5  |
| 20    | Sailing       | 0     |  0.89 |  0.32 |  0.2  |
| 21    | Fencing       | 0     |  0.35 |  2.06 |  0.26 |
| 22    | Luge Sports   | 0     |  0    |  0    |  0    |
| 23    | Wushu         | 0     |  0    |  0    |  0    |
| 23    | Alpine Skiing | 0     |  0.17 |  0    |  0    |
| Total | Total         | 15.66 | 22.37 | 21.78 | 10.09 |

****