Under the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations, financial assistance is  provided to the recognized National Sports Federations (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. 

After the Paris Olympics 2024, a new Olympic cycle has commenced necessitating a review  of the norms in light of evolving circumstances. While revising the norms, the Ministry has  taken into account the increased costs due to inflation in expenditures associated with training,  infrastructure development, equipment procurement, and athlete welfare programs.

Apart from enhancement in the quantum of assistance for several components in order to  provide maximum support to Indian athletes / teams, some new measures have also been  introduced emphasizing grassroots development and capacity building. The salient revisions in  the norms under the Scheme are as under:  

 NSFs are mandated to ensure that at least 20% of their annual budget is earmarked for  grassroots development through their affiliate units, 

 At least 10% of the funding provided under the scheme will be allocated for the  development of coaches and technical staff. 

 All NSFs will also be required to appoint a Coaching Education Expert dedicated to  training trainers. Foreign experts shall also be mandated to train and build the capacity  of local officials and coaches during non-training periods. 

 NSFs with an annual budget of ₹10 crore and above will be required to mandatorily  appoint a High-Performance Director (HPD), who will be responsible for designing and  monitoring the overall technical development programme of the sport. 

 A dietary allowance of ₹10,000 per month will be provided to each probable group  athlete for non-camp days. 

 The salary of the Chief National Coach has been increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh  per month, for other coaches it has been increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh per month. 

 Diet charges have been increased from ₹690 to ₹1,000 per day per athlete for senior  athletes and from ₹480 to ₹850 per day for junior athletes. 

 The financial assistance for the conduct of national championships has been increased  to ₹90 lakh for High-Priority sports and ₹75 lakh for Priority sports. 

 Financial assistance for hosting international events in the country has been doubled to  ₹2 crore.  

Under “Promotion of Inclusiveness through Sports” vertical of Khelo India Scheme,  Khelo India Women’s League were supported by the Government. Till now Khelo India  Women’s League have been organised in 29 sports disciplines across the country.  

Further, several NSFs and sports organisations are organising leagues in a range of disciplines,  including Cricket, Football, Rugby, Volleyball, Kho-Kho, and Basketball. These leagues not  only help in scouting and grooming emerging talent from grassroots levels but also promote  regional representation and encourage private sector participation and sponsorship. 

The Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations plays a pivotal role in  advancing India’s long-term goal of becoming a global sporting powerhouse and an eventual  host of the 2036 Olympic Games. The scheme ensures robust grassroots development,  professional coaching, scientific support to athletes, and increased exposure through support to

NSFs for hosting and participation in international sporting events. It also prioritizes grassroot  development and capacity building of coaches and technical staff. Collectively, these measures  enhance competitiveness of our athletes / teams in international events and strategically  position the nation for successfully hosting mega sports events like the Olympics. 

This information was given by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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MG/DK

(Release ID: 2147806)