ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Sports can create valuable career opportunities, but talented athletes often face financial difficulties while managing training, equipment, travel, and competition expenses. To support promising sportspersons and help them continue their sporting journey, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) runs the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27 under the Podium Aspirants Category.

The scheme provides financial assistance to eligible Indian sportspersons who have demonstrated strong sporting performance and the potential to achieve success at national and international levels. Selected athletes may receive a monthly scholarship ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹70,000, depending on their sporting achievements, participation level, ranking, or other applicable selection criteria.

In addition to the monthly scholarship, the scheme provides health and accident insurance support of up to ₹5 lakh. Athletes may also receive reimbursement of insurance premiums of up to ₹7,000 per year, sports kits, and travel or daily allowance for participating in domestic tournaments while representing ONGC, subject to the applicable conditions.

For the 2026–27 cycle, ONGC has announced 125 scholarships across 19 sports disciplines. The scholarships include 96 positions for male sportspersons and 29 positions for female sportspersons. The scholarship is initially provided for one year and may be extended for up to three years based on annual sporting performance.

ONGC is a Maharatna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. Through this sports scholarship programme, ONGC aims to encourage sporting talent and provide financial support to athletes who meet the prescribed eligibility and performance requirements.

Eligible sportspersons can apply online through the official ONGC Sports Scholarship Portal. For the 2026–27 cycle, applications are accepted from 8 September 2026 at 11:00 AM to 29 September 2026 at 4:00 PM. Applicants should keep their age proof, income proof, sports achievement certificates, photographs, signatures, and other required documents ready before submitting the application.

Sportspersons looking for additional financial support can also explore other relevant welfare programmes on GovtSchemes.in. Readers can find information about education scholarships and other financial assistance schemes that may support students, athletes, and eligible families.

Scheme Benefits

The ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27 provides financial assistance and additional support to talented sportspersons under the Podium Aspirants Category. These benefits can help selected athletes manage training, equipment, insurance, travel, and competition-related expenses.

• Monthly scholarship ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹70,000, depending on the athlete's sporting achievement, participation level, or ranking.
• Scholarship of ₹40,000 per month for the achievement or participation levels specified under the first scholarship category.
• Scholarship of ₹50,000 per month for the achievement or participation levels specified under the second scholarship category.
• Scholarship of ₹60,000 per month for the achievement or participation levels specified under the third scholarship category.
• Scholarship of ₹70,000 per month for athletes who have won medals at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, or four-year World Cups or Championships, as applicable.
• Individual health and accident insurance support of up to ₹5 lakh, subject to the applicable scheme conditions.
• Insurance premium reimbursement of up to ₹7,000 per year, where applicable.
• Sports kits for sportspersons representing ONGC in domestic tournaments.
• Travel allowance, daily allowance, and necessary expenses for participating in domestic tournaments on behalf of ONGC, as per the applicable rules.
• Scholarship support for one year, which may be extended for up to three years based on annual sporting performance.
• Monthly scholarship payment through online transfer directly to the bank account provided by the selected sportsperson.
• Scholarship opportunities across 19 sports disciplines, including athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, football, hockey, kabaddi, squash, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, swimming, archery, boxing, para sports, shooting, wrestling, and golf.
• A total of 125 scholarships are available for 2026–27, including 96 positions for male sportspersons and 29 positions for female sportspersons.

The benefits are available only to selected applicants who fulfil the eligibility, sporting achievement, ranking, documentation, and other conditions prescribed in the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27 notification.

Scholarship Amount and Financial Assistance

Under the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27, selected sportspersons may receive monthly financial assistance ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹70,000, depending on their sports achievements, rankings, or level of participation.

The scholarship is initially provided for one year and may be extended for up to three years, subject to the athlete's annual performance and the applicable ONGC guidelines.

Note: Selected sportspersons may receive individual health and accident insurance coverage of ₹5 lakh. Alternatively, ONGC may reimburse the insurance premium up to ₹7,000 per year, subject to the applicable conditions.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following conditions to be considered for the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27:

• The applicant must be an Indian citizen.
• The applicant must be between 18 and 30 years of age. The applicant's date of birth must fall between 1 September 1996 and 1 September 2008.
• The annual income of the applicant's parents must not exceed ₹30 lakh.
• The applicant must provide a valid birth certificate or Class 10 board marksheet as proof of age.
• The applicant must submit a recent family income certificate or copies of the parents' Income Tax Returns, as applicable.
• The applicant must not be employed by the Central or State Government, a public sector undertaking, private organisation, foundation, or any other organisation.
• The applicant must not receive another scholarship, stipend, contract, or financial assistance from any government body, public sector undertaking, private organisation, foundation, or other organisation.
• The applicant must have a recognised sports achievement, ranking, or performance that meets the selection requirements for the concerned discipline.
• The sports achievement or performance must fall within the evaluation period from 1 January 2025 to the application closing date.
• The applicant must submit accurate information and valid documents during the online application process.
• For chess, applicants must meet the applicable FIDE rating criteria. The minimum FIDE rating is 2500 for men and 2350 for women. Scholarship eligibility and the applicable amount will depend on the prescribed rating slabs and selection criteria.

Meeting the eligibility conditions does not guarantee selection. Final selection depends on the applicant's sports performance, discipline-specific criteria, available scholarships, and the applicable ONGC guidelines.

Sports Covered Under the Scheme

The ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27 covers 19 sports disciplines under the Podium Aspirants Category. The covered disciplines are listed below:

• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Chess
• Cricket
• Football
• Hockey
• Kabaddi
• Squash
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Swimming
• Archery
• Boxing
• Para Sports
• Shooting
• Wrestling
• Golf

Required Documents

Applicants should keep the following documents and details ready before submitting the online application for the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27:

• Birth certificate or Class 10 board marksheet as valid proof of age.
• Recent family income certificate or copies of the parents' Income Tax Returns, as applicable.
• Sports achievement certificates showing participation or performance in recognised competitions.
• Valid sports ranking documents issued by the concerned sports federation, wherever applicable.
• Certificates related to national- and international-level achievements, wherever applicable.
• Details of medals, awards, tournament participation, or other recognised sporting achievements.
• Recent passport-size photograph of the applicant.
• Applicant's bank account details for receiving the scholarship through direct bank transfer.
• Scanned copies of the required documents in PDF format.
• Photograph and signature files in JPEG or PNG format, as required on the application portal.
• Each uploaded file must not exceed 100 KB. Applicants should upload clear, valid, and readable documents in the prescribed format.

Applicants must provide accurate information and genuine documents. Submission of false information or forged certificates may lead to rejection of the application and further action under the applicable rules.

Steps to Apply

Applications for the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme are accepted online only. Applicants should complete the registration and application process through the designated ONGC sports scholarship website within the notified application period.

• Open the ONGC Sports Scholarship Portal to access the online application system.
• On the homepage, select the option for applying for the sports scholarship and read the available scheme details and terms and conditions carefully.
• Choose the new-user registration option and enter the required details, such as your name, date of birth, active mobile number, and email address.
• Complete the registration process and use the login credentials created during registration to access your account.
• Open the scholarship application form and provide your personal, educational, family-income, and sports-related information.
• Select the relevant sports discipline and enter details of your recognised achievements, rankings, medals, tournaments, or other qualifying performances.
• Upload the required documents in the format and size specified on the portal. These may include age proof, parents' income certificate, sports certificates, photograph, and bank details.
• Check the application carefully before submitting it. Make sure that the details match the information shown on your certificates and other supporting documents.
• Submit the application online before the closing date mentioned in the latest ONGC notification.
• Save the application number, acknowledgement, or submitted application details for future reference.
• Keep the registered email address and mobile number active, as ONGC uses these details for further communication regarding the application and selection process.

Selected applicants may be asked to submit original or verified documents within the prescribed period. Applicants should therefore monitor their email and the official ONGC website for further instructions.

Selection Process

Selection under the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27 is based on the applicant's recognised sports achievements, rankings, and performance. The selection process may vary according to the sports discipline.

• ONGC first verifies the applicant's eligibility, including citizenship, age, family income, employment status, and other applicable conditions.
• The applicant's sports achievements are assessed for the performance period from 1 January 2025 to the application closing date.
• For ranking-based sports such as badminton, squash, table tennis, tennis, golf, and chess, the latest eligible ranking or ELO rating available on the application closing date may be considered.
• For individual achievement sports such as athletics, archery, boxing, para sports, shooting, swimming, and wrestling, the applicant's best eligible sporting achievement is considered.
• For team sports such as basketball, cricket, football, hockey, kabaddi, and volleyball, the applicant's recognised sporting achievements are assessed according to the applicable criteria.
• Applicants in team sports must obtain at least 15 achievement points to become eligible for the selection trials.
• Selection trials for team sports may be conducted in Delhi/NCR or at another venue decided by ONGC's Corporate Sports Division.
• The final assessment for team sports carries 100 marks, including 70 marks for sports achievements and 30 marks for game trials.
• Applicants must obtain at least 22.5 marks in the game trial to be considered for final selection in team sports.
• Applicants must submit valid achievement certificates, ranking documents, and other supporting documents during the application process.
• Final selection depends on the applicable discipline-wise criteria, document verification, available scholarships, and the decision of the ONGC selection committee.

Meeting the eligibility conditions does not guarantee selection. Applicants must satisfy the applicable sports performance and selection requirements to be considered for the scholarship.

Important Application Details For 2026-27

• Application Start Date: 8 September 2026 at 11:00 AM
• Application Closing Date: 29 September 2026 at 4:00 PM
• Total Scholarships: 125
• Male Scholarships: 96
• Female Scholarships: 29

Applicants should submit their applications through the official ONGC Sports Scholarship portal: ONGC Sports Scholarship Portal 

Relevant Links

• ONGC Official Website
• ONGC Sports Scholarship Portal
• ONGC Sports Scholarship Guidelines and Terms & Conditions
• ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme Details
• ONGC Sports Scholarship Faqs

Contact Information

For queries related to the ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme 2026–27, applicants may contact the Corporate Sports Division, ONGC, using the details given below:

• Phone: +91-11-26751413/21
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Address: Office of Corporate Sports Division, 1st Floor, Tower-B, Deendayal Urja Bhawan, 5, Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi–110070.