The SAI (Sports Authority of India) Scholarship 2026 covers the most comprehensive government sports financial support system in India — and for talented athletes across all 36 states and union territories, all age groups, and all recognised sports disciplines, understanding the full SAI scholarship and support ecosystem is the single most important step toward building a financially supported athletic career.
Sports Authority of India — established in 1984 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — is the apex national body responsible for implementing India’s sports development mandate. SAI’s financial support programmes are not a single scholarship but a layered ecosystem of schemes, each targeting a specific athlete profile, performance level, and development stage.
SAI Scholarship and Financial Support Schemes — Complete List
1. Annual Sports Scholarship (Direct SAI Scheme)
SAI’s Annual Sports Scholarship is the most directly accessible financial support scheme for high-performing athletes:
| Category | Annual Amount | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Junior (U-18) | ₹3,00,000–₹5,00,000 | National championship medallists |
| Senior (18–25 years) | ₹5,00,000–₹7,50,000 | Senior national championship performers |
| Elite / TOPS-linked | ₹7,50,000–₹20,00,000 | Olympic / Paralympic podium aspirants |
| Para-sports Junior | ₹3,00,000–₹5,00,000 | Para national championship medallists |
| Para-sports Senior | ₹5,00,000–₹7,50,000 | Senior para-national performers |
Applications through: sai.gov.in → Scholarships section Supporting documents: National championship certificate, sports federation endorsement, Aadhaar, age proof, bank account details.
2. TOPS — Target Olympic Podium Scheme
TOPS is SAI’s elite funding mechanism for India’s highest-potential Olympic and Paralympic athletes. While technically distinct from a “scholarship” — TOPS functions as the most substantial government sports financial support in India:
| TOPS Category | Annual Support | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Olympic Wing (MOW) | ₹20,00,000–₹50,00,000+ | Paris 2024 / LA 2028 medal hopefuls |
| Development Group | ₹10,00,000–₹20,00,000 | Next-generation Olympic pipeline |
TOPS support is individually customised — covering foreign coaching, international competition travel, specialised equipment, sports science, and targeted training camps as the individual athlete’s programme demands.
Sports currently covered under TOPS 2026: Athletics (track and field), Archery, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling, and all Paralympic disciplines.
TOPS athletes are nominated by their National Sports Federations (NSFs) — there is no direct application. Nomination is based on world ranking, Asian Games / Commonwealth Games performance, and LA 2028 medal probability assessment.
3. Khelo India Scholarship (Administered by SAI)
The flagship ₹5,00,000 per year scholarship for athletes aged 9–25 years — identified through Khelo India Games and SAI Talent Hunt Programmes. SAI administers disbursement directly to athletes’ bank accounts.
Full details covered in the Khelo India Scholarship 2026 article on this site.
4. SAI Training Centre Scheme — Residential Support
Athletes selected for SAI National Centres of Excellence (NCoE) and SAI Regional Centres receive:
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| Free Residential Accommodation | ₹8,000–₹15,000/month equivalent |
| Daily Meals (Sports Nutrition) | ₹10,000–₹18,000/month equivalent |
| Professional Coaching | ₹25,000–₹1,00,000/month value |
| Sports Science and Physio | ₹10,000–₹20,000/month value |
| Kit and Equipment | ₹50,000–₹3,00,000/year value |
| Competition Travel | Fully covered |
| Monthly Pocket Allowance | ₹2,000–₹5,000 |
| Total Monthly Equivalent Value | ₹55,000–₹1,65,000 |
SAI NCoE locations and sports (2026):
| NCoE Location | Primary Sports |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru (SAI STC) | Athletics, Boxing, Weightlifting, Gymnastics |
| Patiala (NIS Patiala) | Athletics, Wrestling, Weightlifting, Boxing |
| Lucknow | Hockey, Football, Athletics |
| Kolkata | Football, Athletics, Table Tennis |
| Bhopal | Hockey, Shooting, Athletics |
| Chennai | Badminton, Athletics, Swimming |
| Gandhinagar (NSA) | Shooting, Athletics, Boxing |
| Delhi (Yamuna Sports Complex) | Multiple Olympic sports |
| Mumbai | Cricket, Athletics, Swimming |
| Imphal / Manipur | Boxing, Weightlifting, Indigenous sports |
How to access SAI NCoE training: Selected through national age-group trial camps organised by NSFs and state sports authorities. Contact your sport’s national federation for annual trial camp schedule.
5. SAI Pension Scheme for Meritorious Sportspersons
SAI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports operate a monthly pension for retired meritorious sportspersons:
| Achievement | Monthly Pension |
|---|---|
| Olympic Gold Medallist | ₹22,500/month |
| Olympic Silver Medallist | ₹17,000/month |
| Olympic Bronze Medallist | ₹12,000/month |
| Paralympic Gold | ₹22,500/month |
| CWG / Asian Games Gold | ₹14,000–₹17,000/month |
| World Championship Gold | ₹14,000/month |
This lifetime pension is separate from training scholarships — it is a post-career welfare scheme for athletes who represented India at the highest levels.
State-Wise SAI Centre Coverage
Every state has SAI-linked sports training infrastructure — with the level of support varying by state:
High-Coverage States (Multiple SAI Centres and Full Khelo India Integration)
Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand
Medium-Coverage States (SAI Regional Presence + State SCA)
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh
Growing Coverage (New Khelo India centres being established)
Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa, J&K, Ladakh
Athletes from low-coverage states should contact: SAI Regional Centres — North (Delhi), South (Bengaluru), East (Kolkata), West (Mumbai), Central (Bhopal), Northeast (Guwahati) — for state-specific support access points.
Sports-Wise Scholarship Availability 2026
| Sport | Primary SAI Scheme | Additional Support |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics | Khelo India + NCoE + TOPS | AFI (Athletics Federation) grants |
| Badminton | Khelo India + TOPS + NCoE | BAI Junior Development Fund |
| Boxing | Khelo India + TOPS + NCoE | BFI national squad stipend |
| Cricket | Khelo India (limited) + BCCI | State SCA support — see Cricket Scholarship article |
| Football | Khelo India + SAI STC | AIFF Hero Development League |
| Hockey | SAI NCoE Lucknow/Bhopal + TOPS | HIL development fund |
| Kabaddi | Khelo India + SAI STC | Pro Kabaddi development pathway |
| Shooting | SAI NSA Gandhinagar + TOPS | NRAI national team support |
| Swimming | Khelo India + SAI STC | SI (Swimming India) talent grants |
| Tennis | Khelo India + AITA pathway | AITA junior development programme |
| Weightlifting | SAI NCoE Patiala + TOPS | IWLF national squad stipend |
| Wrestling | SAI NCoE Patiala + TOPS | WFI national squad support |
| Yoga | Khelo India + YAI certification | State sports authority support |
| Para Sports (all) | SAI Para NCoE + TOPS (Para) | PCI / Paralympic Committee support |
How to Apply for SAI Scholarship 2026 — Step by Step
Method 1 — SAI Official Portal (Annual Sports Scholarship)
- Visit sai.gov.in — navigate to Scholarships and Schemes
- Select the relevant scheme category — Junior / Senior / Para
- Register with Aadhaar-linked mobile number
- Fill application form:
- Personal and contact details
- Sport discipline and event
- Performance credentials — national championship results, sports federation ranking or endorsement
- Academic enrollment proof
- Bank account details for direct benefit transfer
- Upload supporting documents
- Submit and note application reference number
- Await NSF (National Sports Federation) endorsement — SAI cross-verifies all applications with the relevant federation
Method 2 — Through National Sports Federation (NSF)
For TOPS and NCoE selection — there is no direct SAI portal application. The pathway is:
- Participate in NSF-organised national championship or selection trial
- Reach the performance threshold recognised by your NSF
- NSF nominates you to SAI for the relevant support scheme
- SAI evaluates and activates the support package
Contact your sport’s NSF directly for the annual trial calendar. NSF contact details available at yas.nic.in (Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — federation directory).
Method 3 — Through State Sports Authority
For state-level SAI scheme access:
- Register at your district sports authority office
- Participate in state-level age-group championships
- State sports authority nominates state-level performers to SAI regional centres for evaluation
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card — mandatory for all SAI schemes (direct benefit transfer)
- Date of Birth Certificate — school leaving certificate or birth certificate
- Sports Performance Certificates — national/state championship medals, certificates, and official result documents
- NSF or State Sports Authority Endorsement Letter
- Academic Enrollment Proof — current school or college certificate
- Medical Fitness Certificate — from SAI-empanelled or government hospital sports medicine unit
- Bank Account Passbook — in athlete’s name (minors: joint account with parent)
- Passport-size Photographs — minimum 4, recent
- BPL / Income Certificate — for need-based enhanced support categories
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Can an athlete receive both SAI scholarship and Khelo India scholarship simultaneously? Yes — they are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Many athletes access both simultaneously: Khelo India scholarship (₹5 lakh/year) plus SAI Annual Sports Scholarship (₹3–5 lakh/year) plus residential support at an SAI NCoE — effectively creating a total annual support package worth ₹15,00,000–₹25,00,000 for elite junior athletes.
Q2. Is there an age limit for SAI Annual Sports Scholarship? SAI scholarship schemes cover athletes broadly across the development pipeline. The junior scheme targets under-18 athletes; the senior scheme covers 18–25 year olds. TOPS has no strict upper age limit — it covers athletes as long as they remain competitive at the international level with realistic Olympic medal prospects.
Q3. How long does SAI scholarship disbursement take after selection? Typically 3–6 months from application submission to first disbursement — due to NSF verification, document processing, and direct benefit transfer setup. Athletes should plan for this processing lag and not depend on SAI disbursement for immediate training costs.
Q4. What happens to SAI support if an athlete gets injured? A formal medical board evaluation at an SAI-empanelled hospital determines the nature and expected recovery timeline. Scholarship continuation during recovery is permitted for genuine medical cases with documented treatment plans. Athletes with career-ending injuries are transitioned to the Pension Scheme for Meritorious Sportspersons if they meet the achievement criteria.
Q5. Can athletes from rural areas access SAI NCoE training? Yes — and this is a specific SAI mandate. The Khelo India Talent Hunt in rural districts is specifically designed to identify and bring rural talent into the SAI system. Once identified, rural athletes are provided transportation support and residential accommodation at SAI centres. The residential support model means economic background is not a barrier to NCoE training access.
Final Verdict
The SAI Scholarship 2026 ecosystem — spanning the Annual Sports Scholarship (₹3–7.5 lakh/year), TOPS elite funding (₹10–50 lakh+/year), Khelo India (₹5 lakh/year), and NCoE residential support (₹55,000–₹1,65,000/month equivalent) — is the most comprehensive government sports financial support system in Asia. For talented Indian athletes, understanding and accessing multiple layers of this ecosystem simultaneously creates a financially supported development pathway from grassroots to Olympic podium.
Perform at recognised competitions. Register with your NSF and state sports authority. Apply through sai.gov.in for direct scholarship schemes. Keep visiting career.edutueii.in for the latest SAI scholarship 2026 notifications, Khelo India updates, TOPS selections, and all government sports scheme opportunities for Indian athletes across every discipline and every state.