Parliament Question: Support to athletes of Odisha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 4478 ANSWERED ON- 02/04/2026 SUPPORT TO ATHLETES OF ODISHA 4478 SHRI MANAS RANJAN MANGARAJ: Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state: (a) whether Government provides financial assistance, scholarships or training support to national-level athletes of Odisha; (b) the number of athletes from that State who have been benefited from such schemes during the last three years; and (c) whether Government plans to increase such support in view of the State’s growing contribution to Indian sports? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA) (a) to (c): ‘Sports’ being a State subject, the responsibility of promotion of sports including providing financial assistance, scholarship or training support rests primarily with the respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Union Government supplements their efforts through its various schemes/programmes viz., (i) Khelo India - National Programme for Development of Sports; (ii) Assistance to National Sports Federations; (iii) Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches; (iv) National Sports Awards; (v) Scheme of Sports Fund For Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons; (vi) Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons; (vii) National Sports Development Fund; and (viii) Running Sports Training Centres through Sports Authority of India. Details of all these schemes are available in public domain on the website of this Ministry at https://yas.nic.in/sports/schemes. Financial assistance/support is provided to sportspersons including the sportsperson from Odisha under various schemes as given below: (i) Khelo India Scheme provides comprehensive support to athletes, including scholarships, specialised training and coaching facilities, exposure to international competitions, and access to training facilities including funding upto ₹6.28 lakhs per annum per Khelo India Athlete (KIA). The details of KICs and KISCE under Khel India Scheme can also be found in the following URL: https://dashboard.kheloindia.gov.in/. (ii) Under the scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations (ANSF) financial assistance are given to National Sports Federations (NSFs) for the training of athletes including athletes from state of Odisha, which includes all requisite support for training, participation in International events, conduct of National Championships, conduct of Page 1 of 2International tournaments in India, engagement of Foreign Coaches/support staff, scientific & medical support etc. (iii) Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Government provides assistance to India’s top athletes for their preparations for Olympic and Paralympic Games. Selected athletes are supported with funding for customized training and other support not available under normal schemes of the Ministry. Out of pocket allowance (OPA) is paid @ ₹50,000/- per month to Core group athletes. Apart from OPA, entire expenditure for the training plan submitted by the sportsperson, which is considered and approved by Mission Olympic Cell (MOC), is met under TOPS. TOPS Development Group athlete are receiving OPA of ₹25,000. (iv) Under Scheme of Sports Fund For Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, the Government provides financial support to the sportspersons who have won medal in designated international level events, after their retirement from active sports, with the objective of providing an assured monthly income through annuity for outstanding sportspersons. Under the existing scheme, monthly pension ranging from ₹ 12,000/- to ₹ 20,000/- is provided to eligible ex-sportspersons. (v) The scheme of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons is being implemented with the objective of providing financial assistance to outstanding sportspersons/family members, including from state of Odisha, living in indigent circumstances for various purposes like medical treatment, injuries, procurement of sports equipment’s etc. Under this scheme one sportsperson from Odisha has been granted Rs. 2,50,000 assistance during the last three years. ***** Page 2 of 2