Parliament Question: Schemes for Welfare of Sportspersons

Government of India Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Department of Sports LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3739 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 Schemes for Welfare of Sportspersons † 3739. SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the various schemes currently being implemented by the Government for the welfare of sportspersons; (b) the primary objectives and the targeted beneficiary groups under these schemes; and (c) the details of the new initiatives taken by the Government regarding the health, security and career transition (post-retirement rehabilitation) of the sportspersons? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA] (a) to (c): ‘Sports’ being a State subject the responsibility for promoting sports, including to promote the welfare of sportspersons by providing financial support and mental counselling, rests primarily with the respective State Government. However, the Central Government supplements their efforts through its various schemes/programs/initiatives, as under:  Scheme of Sports Fund for Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons provides additional financial security to sportspersons post retirement from active sports career in the form of life-time pension ranging from ₹12,000/- to ₹20,000/- per month. The sportspersons, who are retired from an active sports career and won medals in Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, World Cup, World Championships, Asian Games, Para Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, are eligible for life-time pension under the scheme. Page 1 of 2 Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons provides financial assistance, ranging from ₹2 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs, to sportspersons and their families for injury, hardship, equipment, and event participation, etc.  To provide mental wellness support to sportspersons, sport psychologists and mental trainers are engaged at both national team and individual levels. Presence of a sports psychologist, including High- Performance Analyst (Psychology) or Performance Analyst (Psychology) is ensured at the National Centres of Excellence (NCoE) of Sports Authority of India. These sports psychologists are responsible for helping the athletes with the mental training pertaining to optimal performance, as well as enabling them to achieve emotional wellbeing also.  The Government has taken initiative for post-retirement rehabilitation through ‘RESET’ (Retired Sportspersons Empowerment Training) Programme which aims at facilitating retired athletes’ career development by providing them tailor-made education for their academic enhancement supplemented with internship and empowering them with the necessary knowledge and skills for their transition into a suitable career option. ***** Page 2 of 2