Himachal Pradesh plans ₹17.85 crore in awards for 419 athletes

Himachal Pradesh has scheduled a state-level awards ceremony in Shimla on 31 October to honour 419 athletes for their performances at international and national levels.

Award allocations and sports policy

The planned awards cover 51 international-level athletes, with ₹13.55 crore allocated, and 368 national-level athletes, with ₹4.30 crore allocated. The total allocation is ₹17.85 crore.

Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma said the new sports policy raised award amounts by 150% to 300%. The government has also provided 3% reservation under the sports quota; athletes have been recruited through the Education Department under this provision.

Important Facts for Exams

• Quota scope: India’s constitutional reservation framework permits Union and state or territorial governments to set quotas in employment, higher education and political bodies.
• State legislative competence: The Constitution’s Seventh Schedule places sports in State List Entry 33, giving states primary legislative responsibility for ordinary sports administration.
• Federation governance: India’s National Sports Development Code, 2011, regulates recognition and governance of national sports federations, including election and tenure requirements.
• Meritorious-sportsperson recruitment: The Union government’s meritorious-sportsperson rules provide direct appointment to specified Group C posts, a recruitment channel distinct from ordinary competitive selection.