## Policy Summary: Reforms in Athlete Selection and Support (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, July 31, 2025)
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has implemented reforms to enhance transparency, accountability, and athlete support within the National Sports Federations (NSFs). These reforms, aligned with the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011, address athlete selection procedures, financial assistance, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
**Athlete Selection:**
* NSFs are responsible for athlete selection for international events, ensuring impartial and transparent processes. Government and Sports Authority of India (SAI) involvement is indirect.
* NSFs must maintain and publish standard selection policies on their websites, updating them at least three months before any event. Policies for major events like the Olympics and Asian Games must be published two years in advance.
* Selection trials must be video recorded or monitored via CCTV, with recordings and selection committee minutes submitted to SAI.
* Selection committees are to be formed by the NSF President, ideally headed by a High-Performance Director, Chief Coach, Foreign Coach, or former international player (preferably a Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardee, Arjuna Awardee, or Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit) retired from active sports for at least four years.
* Independent grievance redressal mechanisms must be in place to resolve grievances within seven days.
**Financial Assistance and Support:**
* The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) provides financial assistance to athletes via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for training, competition participation, and monthly out-of-pocket allowance (OPA).
* The Scheme of Assistance to NSFs provides OPA to athletes and coaches during international events, disbursed via DBT upon receipt of required documents.
* Disbursement of funds for OPA is also done through DBT for Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) under the Khelo India Scheme.
* Under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs, the Ministry revised the norms of assistance on May 22, 2025, to enhance funding and support for junior athletes. NSFs are now mandated to allocate at least 20% of their annual budget to grassroots development. Financial assistance for National Championships is increased to Rs. 30 lakh each for Senior, Junior, and Sub-Junior/Youth/Cadet categories for High Priority sports and up to Rs. 25 lakhs for Priority and General disciplines.
* Diet charges have been increased from Rs. 690 to Rs. 1000 per day per athlete for Senior athletes and from Rs. 480 to Rs. 850 per day for Junior athletes.
These reforms aim to promote fair and transparent athlete selection, ensure timely financial assistance, and strengthen support for athletes at all levels, particularly at the grassroots level.
**Source:** Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
National Sports Development Code of India, 2011: A set of guidelines and regulations governing the functioning of sports bodies in India.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The government ministry responsible for youth affairs and sports in India.
National Sports Federations: Organizations recognized at the national level in India for the promotion and development of specific sports.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme: A scheme to provide financial assistance to athletes for training and participation in competitions.
Direct Benefit Transfer: A mechanism for transferring subsidies directly to beneficiaries through their bank accounts.
Khelo India Scheme: A national program for the development of sports in India at the grassroots level.
Sports Authority of India: The apex national sports body of India, established by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 1984.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya: The Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
REFORMS IN ATHLETE SELECTION
Posted On: 31 JUL 2025 5:08PM by PIB Delhi
The Government recognizes National Sports Federations (NSFs) at the national level for the promotion and
development of sports, as per the criteria laid down in the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011
(Sports Code). The selection of sportspersons for participation in international events is the responsibility of
the concerned NSF. The NSFs are required to adopt impartial and transparent selection procedures and
ensuring accountability and transparency at all levels.
Under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the financial assistance is provided to Athlete for training
and participation in competitions and out-of-pocket allowance (OPA) on monthly basis. The assistance is
provided through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal in a timely manner with no delay.
Further, under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs competing athletes and coaches are provided OPA during
the international sporting event as per approved norms and after receiving the required documents. The
submission of incomplete details causes delay in releasing OPA to the beneficiaries.
Apart from above, the disbursement of funds for Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA) is done through the
DBT mode for the Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) under the Khelo India Scheme with no delay.
The Ministry on 05.03.2025 issued instructions relating to selection of sportspersons for participation in
international events, inclusion in coaching camps and selection of coaches/support staff. As per the
instructions, participation in International events will be the responsibility of NSFs and Government and SAI
have no direct involvement. The other salient features of the instructions are:
NSFs must have a standard selection policy for all events and camps. Policy must be uploaded on NSF
(cid:108)
websites and updated at least 3 months before any event.
Selection trials must be video recorded or monitored via CCTV. Recordings must be sent to SAI with
(cid:108)
minutes of the selection committee.
Policies for Olympics, Asian Games, etc., must be published on the website of the NSF at least 2 years in
(cid:108)
advance.
Selection Committee to be formed by NSF President. Selection Committee should ideally be headed by
(cid:108)
High Performance Director/Chief Coach/Foreign
Coach/former international Player (preferably Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardee/ Arjuna
Awardee), Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM), who must have retired from active sports for at least
four years.
Grievance Redressal Mechanism must be in place grievances resolved within 7 days. Grievance
(cid:108)
committees must be independent of the selection committee.
Under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs, financial assistance is provided to the recognized NSFs for training
of athletes, which includes all requisite support for training, participation in international events, conduct of
national championships, conduct of international tournaments in India, engagement of foreign
coaches/support staff, scientific & medical support etc. The Ministry has recently revised the norms of
assistance under this
Scheme on 22.05.2025. The key revisions in the scheme’s norms related to increased funding and support for
junior athletes are as follows:
NSFs have been mandated to ensure that at least 20% of their annual budget is earmarked for grassroot
(cid:108)
development.
Amount of financial assistance for conduct of national championships up to Rs. 30 lakh each for Senior,
(cid:108)Junior and Sub-Junior/Youth/Cadet are provided for High Priority sports and up to Rs. 25 lakhs for
Priority and General disciplines.
Diet charges have been increased from Rs. 690 to Rs. 1000 per day per athlete for Senior athletes and
(cid:108)
from Rs. 480 to Rs. 850 per day for Junior athletes.
This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in a written
reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
Rini Choudhury
(Release ID: 2150824)