How to Get Govt Funding as an Athlete: TOPS & Khelo India Decoded

Khelo India pays top athletes about ₹6.28 lakh a year for up to 8 years, including a ₹10,000 monthly allowance.

TOPS is the elite tier: ₹50,000/month for Core Group, ₹25,000/month for Development Group, plus full training and travel.

The Mission Olympic Cell under SAI clears TOPS proposals and meets weekly to approve athlete spending.

The realistic path runs from Khelo India Games to an accredited academy to a scholarship, then into TOPS.

Selection runs through National Sports Federations, so federation performance and rankings are non-negotiable.