Akhil Bharatiya Civil Services Pratiyogita

What is the Akhil Bharatiya Civil Services Pratiyogita?

Akhil Bharatiya Civil Services Pratiyogita is a scheme of the Department of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand. The scheme funds and organises the state's participation in the All India Civil Services sports competitions conducted every year by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India, for central and state government employees.

The purpose stated in the state's scheme compendium is simple: give personnel from various government departments of Uttarakhand an annual opportunity to compete at the all-India level in a range of sports. The national event is a long-running civil services meet, and every state fields teams for it. This scheme is Uttarakhand's mechanism for fielding those teams and paying for them.

Roughly 150 personnel from Uttarakhand government departments benefit each year through the scheme, which is a useful yardstick for how many places the state's teams actually carry across all disciplines put together.

Who is eligible for the Akhil Bharatiya Civil Services Pratiyogita?

You can take part if:

• You are an employee of a government department in Uttarakhand. This is the single eligibility condition stated in the scheme guideline.
• You clear the district level selection trial for your sport.
• You then clear the state level selection trial.
• Your parent department releases you to travel for the trials and the national competition.

You are not eligible, and cannot apply, if:

• You are not a government employee; students, private sector employees, self-employed athletes and unemployed sportspersons fall outside this scheme entirely. The national competition itself is restricted to central and state government employees.
• You do not clear the district or state trial, since selection, not application, is what puts a person on the team.

The guideline publishes no age limit, no gender restriction and no minimum service length. It also publishes no departmental restriction — personnel from "various government departments" are covered, not a named list.

What does the scheme give you?

The Department of Sports provides, in accordance with departmental standards, to all players and team members taking part:

• Travel allowance for the journey to and from the competition venue.
• Accommodation allowance for the stay.
• Food allowance for the duration.
• Sports kits for the selected players.
• Other necessary support required for participation.

No fixed rupee figure is published for any of these heads in the scheme guideline, because each is paid at the department's prevailing rates. This guide therefore does not quote an amount. Ask the District Sports Officer for the current rate applicable to your grade and destination before you travel.

There is no cash prize attached to this scheme. Medal awards for Uttarakhand's sportspersons are handled through the department's separate cash award schemes.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Akhil Bharatiya Civil Services Pratiyogita

1. Ask your District Sports Officer when the district level selection trial for your sport is being held. The Sports Directorate conducts trials ahead of the national competition each year.
2. Get written permission from your parent department to attend the trial and, if selected, to travel for the competition. Government employees need this release before they compete.
3. Appear in the district level trial with your service identity card and the departmental permission letter.
4. Appear in the state level trial if you are selected at district level. Selection at state level is what places you in the Uttarakhand contingent.
5. Collect your sports kit and travel sanction from the Sports Directorate before departure, and keep the sanction order; allowances are settled against it.
6. Participate in the All India Civil Services competition organised by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and submit your travel and stay claims on return as your department directs.

How to find out when trials are being held

1. Check sports.uk.gov.in, which publishes the departmental annual sports calendar and departmental government orders.
2. Contact the District Sports Officer of your district, who receives the trial circular directly.
3. Watch your departmental circulars. Trial notices for civil services competitions are usually routed through department heads, since only employees are eligible.
4. Ask the Sports Directorate, Dehradun for the current year's schedule if your district office has not received the circular.

What commonly goes wrong

• No departmental permission in hand on trial day, so the employee cannot be entered even after travelling to the venue.
• Missing the district trial because the circular did not reach the employee's office. Following the departmental sports calendar directly is more reliable than waiting for a circular.
• Assuming selection is automatic for a strong past athlete. Selection runs through the district and state trials every year.
• Expecting reimbursement without the sanction order. Allowances are paid against the departmental sanction, so keep it and all travel receipts.

Key facts at a glance

• Department: Department of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand.
• National organiser: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India.
• Eligibility: serving employee of a government department in Uttarakhand.
• Selection: district level trial, then state level trial.
• Beneficiaries: approximately 150 personnel a year.
• Support: travel, accommodation and food allowance, sports kits, and other necessary support as per departmental norms.

Help and grievance redressal

• Scheme owner: Directorate of Sports, Department of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
• First point of contact: your District Sports Officer, for trial dates, entry and allowance rates.
• Portal: sports.uk.gov.in for the annual sports calendar and departmental government orders.

The Uttarakhand Department of Sports has not published a dedicated helpline for this scheme, so none is listed here. Route queries through your District Sports Office or your own department's establishment section.