Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches

Summary of the Scheme
Name of Scheme	Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches
Launch Year	1986
Benefits	Cash awards of up to ₹75 lakh for an Olympic or Paralympic gold medal
Beneficiary	Indian sportspersons who win medals at eligible international sports events and their coaches
Nodal Agency	Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Subscription	Subscribe here to get Update Regarding Scheme
Mode of Apply	Online through the DBT-MIS portal, generally within six months of the sporting achievement

Cash Incentive for Medal Winners in International Sports: Up to ₹75 Lakh for an Olympic Gold

Winning a medal for India takes years of training, and the government rewards it with real money. The Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches gives eligible athletes cash awards of up to ₹75 lakh, and their coaches get an incentive too.

What is the scheme?

The scheme was introduced in 1986 and is run by the Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It gives one-time cash awards to Indian sportspersons who win medals at specified international competitions, including the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and selected World Championships and other events.

Its aims are to reward outstanding performances, motivate athletes to aim higher, and inspire young people to take up sports. Winning a medal does not automatically guarantee payment. The achievement and application must be verified and approved under the scheme guidelines.

Scheme at a glance

How much do medal winners get?

These are the main amounts for senior-level individual events under the guidelines effective 1 February 2025.

Different rates apply to certain para-sports and diverse-ability events. The full list is in the official guidelines. The award is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) after verification and approval.

Team events and multiple medals

• Team events: Each eligible team member gets 75% of the individual award for the same medal, level and category. This includes bench and reserve players. For example, if the individual bronze award is ₹30 lakh, each team member may receive ₹22.5 lakh.
• Multiple medals at major games: At the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Para Asian Games, an athlete can receive an award for each medal won.
• Multiple medals elsewhere: At other eligible events, an athlete generally receives the award only for the highest medal won.

Incentives for coaches

Eligible coaches receive an incentive equal to 50% of the athlete’s applicable award. For individual events it is split like this:

Example: For an Olympic gold worth ₹75 lakh, the total coach incentive is ₹37.5 lakh. That works out to ₹11.25 lakh for grassroots coaches, ₹11.25 lakh for developmental coaches and ₹15 lakh for elite coaches.

Other rules:

• If more than one coach is nominated in a category, that category’s share is divided equally among them.
• An athlete can nominate an eligible akhara or academy instead of an individual coach.
• The nominated coach, akhara or academy must meet the Ministry’s registration and other requirements.

The actual payment depends on the approved award, the nominations and the official guidelines.

Who is eligible?

1. You must be an Indian sportsperson who won a medal at an eligible international event.
2. The competition must be listed in the current guidelines.
3. You must meet the minimum participation rules, where they apply (see below).
4. You must apply online through the DBT-MIS portal, generally within six months of the achievement.
5. You must provide the information and documents needed to verify your medal and participation.

Minimum participation rules

For most events, the award depends on how many countries took part. These rules do not apply to the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Para Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

If the event rules cap the number of participants below the usual full-award threshold, that lower maximum is used as the threshold for the full award.

Which sports and events are covered?

Only competitions listed in the current guidelines qualify, and the Department of Sports can add, change or remove events. The main categories are:

• Traditional Olympic and competitive sports: archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting, volleyball and more.
• Other recognised sports: kabaddi, kho-kho, chess, golf, squash, tennis, karate, wushu, yogasana, mallakhamb, e-sports and others.
• Para-sports: including para-athletics, para-powerlifting, para-swimming and para-shooting.
• Diverse-ability sports: such as the Deaflympics, Special Olympics World Games, IBSA World Championships and the Blind Cricket World Cup.
• Major multi-sport events: Olympic, Paralympic, Asian, Para Asian and Commonwealth Games, and the World University Games.

Check the official guidelines to confirm your sport and competition qualify.

Documents to keep ready

• Proof of the medal, such as an official result or medal certificate
• Aadhaar card or other required identity details
• Bank account number and IFSC for DBT
• Event details: name, date, venue and medal won
• Team participation details, where applicable
• Coach details, if you are nominating a coach

Exact requirements can vary, so check the DBT-MIS portal for the latest list.

How to apply

1. Open the Department of Sports DBT-MIS portal.
2. First-time users click Registration and create an account. Existing users choose Sportsperson Login.
3. Select the Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners in International Sports Events and their Coaches.
4. Fill in your personal and bank details and the details of the competition.
5. Add medal, team and coach information where applicable, and upload the requested documents.
6. Check everything, submit, and save your application number or acknowledgement.
7. To track progress, log in, choose Application Status and enter your application number.

There is no service charge. The latest instructions are in the portal’s Knowledge Hub.

Need help?

• Phone: 011-23387432 / 011-23385101
• Toll-free helpdesk: 1800-202-5155 / 1800-258-5155 (Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 8 PM)
• Scheme queries: section.sp4-moyas@gov.in
• Technical queries: dbt.sports@gov.in
• Address: Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001
• Office hours: Mon to Fri, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, excluding public holidays

Related scheme

Athletes facing financial hardship, medical needs or sports injuries can also look at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Programme for Sportspersons.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum award?
₹75 lakh for an Olympic or Paralympic gold medal.

What do Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallists get?
₹30 lakh for gold, ₹20 lakh for silver and ₹10 lakh for bronze.

Do team members get awards?
Yes, 75% of the individual award for the same medal.

Are coaches eligible?
Yes. They receive 50% of the athlete’s award, divided among grassroots, developmental and elite coaches.

Is there an application deadline?
Applications should generally be made within six months of the achievement.

Is there a fee?
No.

Who runs the scheme?
The Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.