Financial Assistance/Pension to Former Renowned Sportspersons

What is the Financial Assistance/Pension to Former Renowned Sportspersons scheme?

Financial Assistance/Pension to Former Renowned Sportspersons is a welfare scheme of the Directorate of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand. The scheme provides a lifelong monthly pension to former athletes who brought recognition to the state or the country through their performances in recognised competitions and who are now in financial difficulty.

According to the scheme details published on the myScheme portal, the pension ranges from a minimum of Rs 4,000 per month to a maximum of Rs 10,000 per month. The amount is fixed by the Directorate of Sports based on the applicant's sporting record and level of achievement. The pension continues for the lifetime of the beneficiary, which distinguishes it from one-time cash awards given to medal winners.

The scheme recognises that many sportspersons who represented Uttarakhand in earlier decades did so without professional contracts or long-term financial security. As they age, some are left without a regular income. This pension is designed to give those individuals a stable monthly support so that their contribution to the state's sporting history is honoured in a practical way.

Who is eligible for the sportspersons pension?

You can apply if:

• You are a permanent resident of Uttarakhand.
• You are a former sportsperson who represented the state or the country in recognised competitions.
• You are above 50 years of age.
• You are not currently employed in any government, private or self-employed capacity that provides a regular salary.
• Your monthly income from all private sources does not exceed Rs 20,000.

You cannot apply / are not eligible if:

• You are not a permanent resident of Uttarakhand.
• You are below 50 years of age.
• You are currently employed and drawing a regular salary.
• Your monthly income from private sources is above Rs 20,000.
• You cannot produce participation or medal certificates showing a genuine sporting record.

The combination of the age bar, the unemployment condition and the income ceiling means the scheme is targeted narrowly at older, retired athletes who no longer have an active earning source. A younger athlete who is still competing or coaching, or a former athlete with a well-paying job, falls outside the scheme.

What documents are required?

Keep both the originals and self-attested photocopies ready. The participation and medal certificates are the single most important part of the file, because the whole scheme rests on the applicant's proven record as a renowned sportsperson.

How to apply for the sportspersons pension

The scheme is processed offline through the Directorate of Sports.

1. Obtain the application form. Get the prescribed form from the Directorate of Sports, Uttarakhand, at the Maharana Pratap Sports College Campus, Raipur, Dehradun, or check the sports department portal at sports.uk.gov.in for a downloadable copy.
2. Fill in the form completely. Enter your personal details, permanent address, past sporting record, current employment status and income details. Sign the declaration.
3. Attach all supporting documents. Include the residence certificate, participation and medal certificates, income certificate, age proof, Aadhaar card and bank passbook copy.
4. Submit the application. Hand over the duly filled and signed form along with the documents to the Directorate of Sports, Uttarakhand.
5. Keep the acknowledgement. Retain any receipt or reference given at submission for follow-up.

After submission, the directorate verifies the applicant's sporting record and financial eligibility before the pension is sanctioned and paid into the applicant's bank account.

How is the pension amount decided?

The Directorate of Sports fixes each pension between Rs 4,000 and Rs 10,000 a month based on the applicant's level and record of achievement. There is no fixed public slab table, so the sanctioning authority weighs the standard of competition the athlete reached: state, national or international, and the strength of the documentary proof. This is why the participation and medal certificates matter so much: a stronger, better-evidenced record supports a higher pension within the Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 band. Once sanctioned, the pension is lifelong and credited directly to the beneficiary's bank account, which distinguishes it from a one-time cash award to a medal winner.

How is this different from the national sportspersons pension?

This is a state scheme of the Uttarakhand Directorate of Sports and should not be confused with the Government of India's Scheme of Pension to Meritorious Sportspersons, run by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, which pays higher monthly amounts to Olympic, World Championship, Asian and Commonwealth medallists. An Uttarakhand athlete may qualify for the central scheme on achievement alone, whereas this state pension is means-tested, it adds the age, unemployment and Rs 20,000 income conditions so that it reaches older state athletes who are now in financial difficulty. The two are separate routes, and eligibility for one does not decide the other.

How do I check the status of my application?

Because the scheme is processed manually by the Directorate of Sports, there is no confirmed online status tracker specific to this pension. To check progress, contact the Directorate of Sports at the Raipur, Dehradun office where you submitted the form, quoting your acknowledgement reference. Carry a copy of the submitted application when you follow up.

Why do applications get rejected, and how to fix them?

• Weak proof of sporting record. The most common reason. Fix it by submitting clear participation or medal certificates from recognised competitions.
• Income above the limit — an income certificate showing more than Rs 20,000 a month will disqualify the file. Ensure the certificate reflects your actual current income.
• Age below 50: applicants must cross 50 years first.
• Missing residence proof, a valid Uttarakhand permanent residence certificate is essential.
• Current employment. The scheme is only for those not currently employed.

Key facts to remember

• Benefit: Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 per month, lifelong.
• Minimum age: above 50 years.
• Income ceiling: Rs 20,000 per month from private sources.
• Mode: offline, at the Directorate of Sports, Uttarakhand.
• No application fee should be paid to any agent.

Help and grievance route

For questions about the scheme, the application form or the status of a submitted file, contact the Directorate of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand, Maharana Pratap Sports College Campus, Raipur, Dehradun, or refer to the department portal at sports.uk.gov.in. Because eligibility depends heavily on documentary proof of a sporting record and financial need, applicants are advised to prepare a complete file before visiting the office.

No dedicated online application has been confirmed for this pension, so treat the offline route through the Directorate of Sports as the primary channel and check sports.uk.gov.in only for updates or a downloadable form. No agent or middleman can charge a fee to "arrange" the pension, and the directorate does not require any payment to accept an application. Elderly applicants who find the trip to Dehradun difficult can ask the district sports officer for help forwarding the file.