**Executive Summary**
The document answers questions posed in Lok Sabha regarding the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). TOPS, implemented since 2014, aims to enhance India's medal prospects in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The document outlines the objectives, key components, current support for athletes, and ongoing efforts to strengthen and align TOPS with broader capacity-building initiatives. The questions are to be answered on 01.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Overview:**
* Aims to enhance India's medal prospects in Olympic and Paralympic Games by identifying athletes with elite potential and providing customized support.
* Provides customized training support to elite athletes for participation in major international sporting events.
* Functions in convergence with other schemes of the Ministry addressing preparation and training requirements for international competitions.
* **Key Components of TOPS:**
* **Financial Assistance:** Monthly Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA) of ₹50,000 for TOPS Core athletes and ₹25,000 for TOPS Development athletes.
* **Training & Coaching Support:** Engagement of foreign/Indian expert coaches and high-performance support staff across key disciplines.
* **Sports Science & Support Services:** Assistance for physiotherapy, sports psychology, nutrition, performance analytics, etc.
* **International Exposure:** Support for overseas training and participation in global competitions based on performance requirements.
* **High-Performance Facilities:** Access to training at accredited high-performance centers in India and abroad.
* **Structured Governance:** Selection and monitoring by the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), comprising discipline experts.
* **Athlete Selection and Support:**
* Athletes are selected based on medal prospects at Olympics and Paralympics by the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC).
* Evaluation considers performance trajectories, international rankings, expert assessments, and qualification pathways.
* Currently supports 51 TOPS Core Athletes, 130 TOPS Development Athletes, and 52 TOPS Para Core Athletes.
* Athletes have achieved podium finishes at Olympic Games, Para-Olympic Games, Asian Games, Para Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Championships.
* **Scheme Strengthening and Alignment:**
* The Scheme is continuously reviewed and strengthened.
* Inclusion of promising athletes, enhanced sports science support, and timely approval of foreign exposure plans.
* Inter-ministerial coordination for facility development, training logistics, visa facilitation, and anti-doping measures.
* Ongoing training and preparation, including for the Olympics 2036, are continuous.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Athletes Supported by TOPS**
* **Impact:** Benefit from financial assistance, expert coaching, sports science support, international exposure, and high-performance facilities to enhance their training and performance.
* **Action Required:** To train and participate in competitions according to their individual training plans and pathways, aiming for medal prospects at the Olympics and Paralympics.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing, reviewing, and strengthening the TOPS scheme to achieve its objectives and align it with broader capacity-building initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the effective delivery of TOPS components, continuous review and improvement of the scheme, and inter-ministerial coordination for comprehensive support.
**Stakeholder: Mission Olympic Cell (MOC)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for athlete selection and monitoring, ensuring that athletes with the best medal prospects receive the necessary support.
* **Action Required:** Evaluate athletes based on defined criteria and ensure that the TOPS scheme provides the intended benefits.
**Stakeholder: Government of India**
* **Impact:** Investment in enhancing India's performance in the Olympic and Paralympic Games and promoting the country's position in international sporting events.
* **Action Required:** Maintain support of the TOPS scheme and inter-ministerial coordination to achieve national sporting goals.
Key Entities Referenced
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS): A scheme to enhance India's medal prospects in Olympic and Paralympic Games by providing customized end-to-end support to athletes with elite potential.
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports: The government ministry responsible for sports and youth affairs, and the administration of TOPS.
Mission Olympic Cell (MOC): The body responsible for selection and monitoring of athletes under the TOPS scheme, comprising discipline experts.
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Department of Sports
LOK SABHA
STARRED UNQUESTION NO. 126
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Strengthening Support for Athletes through TOPS
126. Shri Dushyant Singh:
Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:
(a) the objectives and key components of the Target Olympic Podium
Scheme (TOPS) and the manner in which it supports top athletes for
major international competitions;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to integrate the scheme
with other similar national initiatives to promote institutional readiness
to strengthen India’s proposed bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games;
(c) the details of the number of athletes presently supported under the
said scheme along with the criteria used for selection and the major
achievements recorded so far;
(d) whether the Government proposes to expand or strengthen the
scheme ahead of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to promote inter-ministerial
coordination to align the outcomes of TOPS with broader capacity-
building measures for future international sporting events, including the
Olympics?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS
[DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA](a): The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), being implemented
since 2014, aims to enhance India’s medal prospects in Olympic and
Paralympic Games by identifying athletes with elite potential and
providing customized end-to-end support. Key components of the
Scheme include:
(i) Financial Assistance: Monthly Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA)
of ₹50,000 for TOPS Core athletes and ₹25,000 for TOPS
Development athletes.
(ii) Training & Coaching Support: Engagement of foreign/Indian
expert coaches and high-performance support staff across key
disciplines.
(iii) Sports Science & Support Services: Assistance for
physiotherapy, sports psychology, nutrition, performance
analytics, etc.
(iv) International Exposure: Support for overseas training and
participation in global competitions based on performance
requirements.
(v) High-Performance Facilities: Access to training at accredited
high-performance centers in India and abroad.
(vi) Structured Governance: Selection and monitoring carried out by
the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), comprising discipline experts.
(b): TOPS has been formulated to provide customized training support
to elite athletes for their participation in major international sporting
events. The Scheme functions in convergence with other Schemes of
the Ministry that address the preparation and training requirements of
sportspersons for international competitions, including mega sports
events. Training and preparation for such events, including the
Olympics 2036, constitute an ongoing and continuous process.
(c): Currently, the following number of athletes are being supported
under TOPS:
TOPS Core Athletes: 51
TOPS Development Athletes: 130
TOPS Para Core Athletes: 52Athletes are selected based on medal prospects at Olympics and
Paralympics by the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), which evaluates
performance trajectories, international rankings, expert assessments,
and qualification pathways.
Major achievements of the athletes supported under TOPS include
podium finishes at Olympic Games, Para-Olympic Games, Asian Games,
Para Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
(d): The Scheme is continuously reviewed and strengthened by
inclusion of promising athletes, enhanced sports science support, and
timely approval of foreign exposure plans to prepare effectively for
mega sports events including Olympic Games.
(e): Inter-ministerial coordination on matters like facility development,
training logistics, visa facilitation, and anti-doping measures is
undertaken through established Government mechanisms, ensuring
alignment of TOPS outcomes with broader capacity-building for future
international events.
****