The Sports Authority of India (SAI) recently allocated funds of more than Rs. 30.83 crore for the financial year 2023-24, with an Out-of-Pocket Allowance (OPA) of INR 7,71,30,000 for 2571 Khelo India athletes for Quarter 4. This amount is a part of the Khelo India Scholarship Scheme, which aims to support the long-term development of athletes.
Top Indian athletes hailed this initiative by SAI, calling it a ‘true game-changer’.
Under the long-term development program, approximately 3000 athletes have been identified as Khelo India athletes. These athletes receive an out-of-pocket allowance of ₹1,20,000 per annum per athlete, along with an additional ₹5 lakh allocated for each athlete towards training and competition expenses.
The Quarter 4 allocation for 2023-24, covering the months of January, February, and March 2024, is part of the comprehensive support provided to Khelo India athletes throughout the year. The total amount disbursed to athletes for Quarters 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the financial year 2023-24 amounts to ₹30,83,30,000, reflecting the significant investment made by SAI in nurturing sporting talent in India.
The talented athletes who are a part of the Khelo India scheme receive a total annual scholarship of Rs 6.28 lakhs, which covers their training, coaching, diet, kitting, medical insurance, kits, and out-of-pocket allowance.