According to media sources, The Indian government has made Huge Funding of 470 Crore for 6 medals in Paris-24 Olympics preparation, covering training, facilities, and support across 16 sports disciplines. This included significant funding for athletics, hockey, and individual athletes like Neeraj Chopra and PV Sindhu. Despite these efforts, the Indian contingent faced tough competition and couldn’t even match the Talley of Tokyo Olympics 2020 which has again raised the question that why India with a population of 140 million still finished with only 6 medals and 71st position among 90 medal winning nations.
The Indian government has launched various initiatives to uplift sports and athletes, these efforts aim to enhance training, provide scholarships, and ensure holistic development for athletes across the country.
Let’s know what the efforts, financial support and Huge Funding of 470 Crore for 6 medals in Paris-24 that are made by the Indian government to lift the Indian sports to a world level.
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‘Khelo India’
Sports’ being a state subject, the responsibility of development of sports, including development of sports infrastructure, rests primarily with the State/Union Territory Governments. still the Indian government has made several efforts by its flagship scheme like khelo India.
The Khelo India Scheme aims to foster sports culture and achieve sporting excellence nationwide. It encourages sports participation throughout the country, leveraging sports’ holistic influence for the development of children and youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, a healthy lifestyle, national pride, and economic opportunities related to sports development.
The ‘Khelo India – National Program for Development of Sports’ was launched in 2016-17 with the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence across the country. The scheme comprises the following five components:
1. Creation and Upgradation of Sports Infrastructure
Under this Ministry renders financial support for creation of basic sports infrastructure along with sports equipment.
Further, under National Sports Development Funds (NSDF), Government supports various institutions and individuals for creation and upgradation of sports facilities across the country.
Till date, Government has sanctioned 343 sports infrastructure projects of various categories in various States/ UTs across the country. A total of 1059 Khelo India Centres and 302 Accredited Academies have already been sanctioned across the country.
2. Sports Competitions and Talent Development
3. Khelo India Centres and Sports Academies
4. Fit India Movement
5. Promotion of Inclusiveness through Sports
Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) training at various National Centres of Excellence (NCoEs) under the Sports Authority of India and other accredited academies are continuously strengthening the nation’s sports talent pool. In the past two years and the current year, KIAs have set a remarkable 5939 national and 1424 international records across various competitions.
At the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the Indian contingent included 644 athletes, 124 of whom were KIAs. These athletes contributed significantly, winning 42 out of India’s 106 medals, including 9 Gold medals. Furthermore, 28 KIAs are part of the Indian contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympics out of a total of 117 athletes.
Financial support: part of Huge Funding of 470 Crore for 6 medals in Paris-24
Government is encouraging athletes to pursue sports as a career by providing various direct/indirect financial support through various schemes/programmes as under:
Cash Awards to Medal Winners
Under the scheme of Cash Awards to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches, Government provides cash award to outstanding sportspersons to encourage and motivate them for higher achievements and to act as inspiring role models for attracting the younger generation to take up sports.
Under this scheme, cash award ranging from Rs. 20,000/- to Rs.75,00,000/- are granted to sportsperson who have won medals at international events.
For the Olympics following cash award is provided by the Central and State governments for the athletes
Central Government
- Gold Medal: ₹75 lakh
- Silver Medal: ₹50 lakh
- Bronze Medal: ₹35 lakh
State Governments
- Haryana:
- Gold Medal: ₹6 crore
- Silver Medal: ₹4 crore
- Bronze Medal: ₹2.5 crore
- Uttar Pradesh:
- Gold Medal: ₹6 crore
- Silver Medal: ₹4 crore
- Bronze Medal: ₹2 crore
- Maharashtra:
- Gold Medal: ₹1 crore
- Silver Medal: ₹75 lakh
- Bronze Medal: ₹50 lakh
- Odisha:
- Gold Medal: ₹4 crore (specific to hockey players)
- Silver Medal: ₹2 crore
- Bronze Medal: ₹1 crore
- Punjab:
- Gold Medal: ₹2.25 crore
- Silver Medal: ₹1.5 crore
- Bronze Medal: ₹1 crore
Khelo India Centres and Sports Academies
Under the component “Khelo India Centres & Sports Academies” of Khelo India Scheme the talent provided financial assistance @ Rs. 6.28 Lacs per annum [including Rs 1.20 Lacs as Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA)] towards training expenses, coaching, competitions exposure, education, equipment support, scientific support and etc.
Also, under the Khelo India Centre vertical of Khelo India Scheme, Past Champion Athletes (PCAs) are hired as coaches/mentors for young athletes in Khelo India Centres (KICs) who train these athletes as well as run the KIC in an autonomous manner or with the support of the State/UT Sports Department. As of now 918 PCAs have been hired in 1059 Khelo India Centres across 36 States/UTs.
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
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 from National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) for customized training and other support not available under normal schemes of the Ministry. Out of pocket allowance (OPA) is paid @ Rs. 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.
At present, 174 individual athletes & 2 hockey teams (M& W) as core group have been selected under the scheme. Also, Under Development Group, to ensure a focused approach in India’s Olympic preparation the talent identification of 134 best sporting talent has been completed. TOPS Development Group athlete are receiving OPA of Rs. 25,000/-
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons
Under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS) Scheme, Government provides direct financial assistance (upto Rs.2.50 lakh) to sportspersons living in indigent circumstances for training, procurement for sports equipment, participation in national and international sports events, etc.
Post retirement Assistance
Government provides financial support to the sportspersons after their retirement from active sports through the scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, with the objective of providing an assured monthly income through annuity for outstanding sportspersons. Under the existing scheme, monthly pension ranging from Rs. 12,000/- to Rs. 20,000/- is provided to eligible ex-sportspersons.
Welfare at the time of medical treatment and injuries
Government of India also implements the scheme of ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons’. It provides financial assistance upto ₹10.00 lakh for medical treatment and injuries sustained during training for, and participation in sports competitions to sportspersons.
Medical Insurance scheme for Sportspersons
Sports Authority of India (SAI) provides specialized medical insurance schemes to cover sports injuries and other health-related issues of athletes, wherein over 13,000 athletes, coaches, and support staff are insured. This coverage includes health insurance of up to ₹5.00 lakh (Rupees five lakh) per individual, and an additional ₹25.00 lakh (Rupees twenty-five lakh) for accidental death or severe injuries.
Read about complete Indian Olympics History
Road to Los Angeles Olympics 2028
The government’s commitment to sports development and the athletes’ dedication are commendable. Despite significantly Huge Funding of 470 Crore for 6 medals in Paris-24, we as a country need to understand that the correlation between investment and immediate results in sports can be low.
Sports has been a neglected chapter in the Indian socio-economic syllabus, Achieving excellence requires time, consistent effort, patience and perseverance. The government must maintain its commitment and patience, understanding that long-term investments will eventually yield better results as athletes develop and gain experience.
There has been a positive impact of Khelo India on India’s Mission Olympics. In fact, a total of 124 athletes who were part of the Indian Contingent which participated in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou were Khelo India athletes, and they contributed by winning 42 medals out of total 106 medals.
These investments lay a strong foundation for future success, ensuring that Indian athletes continue to improve and inspire the nation with their perseverance and hard work and enhance their skills and strengthen the country’s bench strength for future national and international events.
