Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Sportspersons who have brought recognition to the country through their achievements may face financial difficulties later in life or during a medical emergency. Expenses related to treatment, sports injuries, training and equipment can also make it difficult for athletes to continue their sporting journey. To support eligible sportspersons in such situations, the Government of India runs the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons, which provides financial assistance of up to ₹10 lakh for eligible medical treatment and sports-related injuries. The programme also offers assistance of up to ₹5 lakh to outstanding sportspersons facing financial hardship and the eligible families of deceased sportspersons.

The programme was originally established in March 1982 as the National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons. It was renamed the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS) in September 2017 and revised again on 10 October 2023. It is administered by the Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The scheme aims to support outstanding sportspersons living in financial hardship, athletes injured during training or competitions, and eligible family members who need medical assistance. It also provides financial support for training, sports equipment and participation in national or international events in specified circumstances.

Under the revised guidelines, eligible sportspersons can receive up to ₹2.5 lakh for training, purchasing sports equipment and participating in national or international events when the prescribed conditions are met. Eligible coaches and sports support personnel can also receive assistance, including up to ₹4 lakh for medical treatment and up to ₹2 lakh under the applicable welfare category. The annual income of the applicant or family must generally be below ₹8 lakh from all sources to qualify as living in financial hardship, subject to the conditions of the relevant assistance category. The actual amount approved depends on eligibility, supporting documents and the decision of the competent authority.

Eligible applicants can submit their applications through the Ministry's designated DBT-YAS Portal. Applicants generally need to provide proof of sporting achievements, income details, bank account information and other documents relevant to their case. Medical reports are required for treatment or injury-related claims, while the family of a deceased sportsperson may need to submit a death certificate and proof of relationship or dependency. Applicants can contact the Ministry through the official scheme portal or the Department of Sports for help with eligibility, documents and application status. This is a financial assistance programme and should not be confused with the separate Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, which provides monthly pension benefits to eligible medal winners.

Sportspersons and their families can also explore other relevant schemes for example, the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme supports eligible athletes with scholarships and sports-related assistance, so applicants should check the respective guidelines before applying.

Scheme Benefits

The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons provides financial assistance to eligible athletes and sports personnel facing financial difficulties. The main benefits of the scheme are as follows:

• Eligible outstanding sportspersons facing financial hardship can receive financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh.
• Families of deceased outstanding sportspersons can receive assistance of up to ₹5 lakh, subject to the scheme's conditions.
• Sportspersons and their eligible dependent family members can receive up to ₹10 lakh for medical treatment.
• Athletes injured during training or sports competitions, including junior and sub-junior players, can receive assistance of up to ₹10 lakh.
• Eligible athletes whose parents are facing financial hardship, or who belong to de-recognised, suspended or unrecognised sports federations, can receive up to ₹2.5 lakh for training, sports equipment and participation in national or international events.
• Eligible coaches and sports support personnel can receive up to ₹2 lakh in financial assistance under the applicable welfare category.
• Coaches and eligible sports support personnel facing medical difficulties can receive assistance of up to ₹4 lakh for treatment.
• In deserving cases, the Sports Minister may approve assistance of up to ₹20 lakh, with reasons recorded in writing, as permitted under the scheme guidelines.
• Approved financial assistance is transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
• Applicants can apply through the designated online portal without paying an application fee.

The amount granted depends on the applicant's eligibility, financial circumstances, supporting documents and approval by the competent authority.

Financial Assistance Under the Scheme

The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons provides financial assistance for different needs, including medical treatment, sports injuries, financial hardship and training expenses. The maximum amount depends on the applicant's circumstances and the category under which assistance is requested.

In deserving cases, the Sports Minister may sanction financial assistance of up to ₹20 lakh, even when the applicant does not meet the usual eligibility conditions, provided the reasons are recorded in writing as permitted by the scheme guidelines.

These figures represent maximum assistance limits and do not guarantee that every applicant will receive the full amount. The competent authority assesses each case and decides the amount based on the applicable rules, supporting documents and individual circumstances. Applicants must also disclose any financial assistance received from other sources for the same purpose.

Eligibility Requirements

The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons provides financial assistance to eligible athletes and sports personnel facing financial difficulties. Applicants must meet the following eligibility conditions based on the type of assistance they need.

• Applicants or their families must generally have no income or earn less than ₹8 lakh per year from all sources to qualify as living in financial hardship.
• Retired sportspersons must meet the required sports achievement criteria, such as winning medals at recognised national-level competitions or participating in specified senior-level international events.
• Family members of deceased outstanding sportspersons can apply for financial assistance if they meet the scheme's conditions.
• Sportspersons who cannot afford medical treatment can apply for assistance for themselves or their eligible dependent family members.
• Athletes who suffer injuries during training or sports competitions can apply for assistance. Eligible junior and sub-junior players are also covered.
• Sportspersons whose parents are facing financial difficulties may qualify for assistance to cover training, sports equipment and participation in national or international events.
• Athletes belonging to de-recognised, suspended or unrecognised sports federations may qualify for training and equipment assistance if they meet the prescribed conditions.
• Coaches and sports support personnel must meet the scheme's requirements for service at national coaching camps, recognised national championships or other specified sporting events.
• Regular employees of Central, State or Union Territory governments, their public sector undertakings and government autonomous bodies are not eligible for assistance under the scheme.

Meeting these conditions does not guarantee financial assistance. The Ministry examines each application, supporting documents and the applicable scheme guidelines before approving assistance.

Required Documents

Applicants need to submit documents to prove their eligibility and explain why they require financial assistance under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons. The required documents may vary depending on the type of assistance requested.

• Proof of date of birth to verify the applicant's age.
• Sports achievement certificates to confirm the applicant's sporting achievements and participation in recognised competitions.
• Income certificate issued by a competent authority to show that the applicant or family meets the financial hardship requirements.
• Medical reports and relevant treatment documents for applicants seeking assistance for medical treatment or sports-related injuries.
• Details of financial assistance received from other sources or government schemes for the same purpose, if applicable.
• Death certificate of the sportsperson and proof of relationship or dependency, where required for applications submitted by family members.
• Proof of adoption, if applicable, when an adopted child is claiming assistance as a dependent family member.
• Bank account details to enable the transfer of approved financial assistance.

Applicants should check the latest application form and official scheme guidelines before applying, as additional documents may be required depending on their circumstances and the category of assistance requested.

Steps to Apply

Sportspersons who need financial assistance can apply under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' DBT-YAS portal. The application process is free, and applicants can follow these steps to submit their details and supporting documents.

• First, open the DBT-YAS Portal to access the Ministry's online application system.
• On the portal, select the registration option if you are a new user. Enter the required details and complete the registration process.
• After registering, log in using your registered mobile number and the OTP sent to it. Choose the Sportsperson login option, where applicable.
• Find the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons and select the relevant application category based on your needs, such as financial hardship, medical treatment, sports injury or training assistance.
• Fill in the application form with your personal details, sports achievements, income information and bank account details. Make sure the information matches your supporting documents.
• Upload the required documents, such as sports certificates, an income certificate and medical reports, wherever applicable. Review the information carefully before submitting the application.
• After submission, save your application number or acknowledgement details so you can check the progress of your application later.
• The Ministry examines the application, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) or another designated agency may verify the information. The competent authorities then review the case and decide whether assistance can be approved.
• Once the assistance is approved, the amount is transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Applicants can check their application status through the portal and look for SMS updates.

The Ministry's guidelines set a target of 45 working days for deciding applications, with verification by SAI targeted within 10 working days. The actual time may depend on document verification and the circumstances of the case. Applicants can contact the Ministry through the contact details provided on the official portal if they need help with their application.

Relevant Links

• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports – Official Scheme Page
• DBT-YAS Portal – Online Application
• DBT-YAS Portal – New User Registration
• DBT-YAS Portal – Frequently Asked Questions
• DBT-YAS Portal – Contact Information
• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Program for Sportspersons Revised Guidelines

Contact Information

Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

• Helpline: 1800-202-5155 / 1800-258-5155 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
• Scheme-related queries: [email protected]
• Technical queries: [email protected]
• DBT Cell Contact Numbers: 011-23387432 / 011-23385101
• Office Address: Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001
• Office Hours for DBT Cell Enquiries: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, except public holidays.
• Official Website: https://yas.gov.in/

For help with online applications, applicants can call the toll-free helpline. For questions about scheme eligibility or application documents, they can email the scheme-related queries address. Technical issues with the DBT-YAS portal can be reported to the technical support email address.