State Level Sports Awards - Uttarakhand

What are the Uttarakhand State Level Sports Awards?

State Level Sports Awards of Uttarakhand are the recognitions the Department of Sports / Directorate of Sports, Government of Uttarakhand gives to players and coaches from the state who achieve success in national and international sport. The recognition comes in two forms: cash awards tied to the level of the competition and the medal won, and named honours such as the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award and the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Dronacharya Award.

According to a Directorate of Sports order dated 8 September 2022, Uttarakhand raised its sports award amounts by between 30 and 100 percent. Under the revised scale, a sportsperson from the state who wins an Olympic gold medal receives Rs 2 crore, a silver Rs 1.5 crore, a bronze Rs 1 crore, and mere participation in the Olympic Games earns Rs 50 lakh. For the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships, the awards are Rs 30 lakh for gold, Rs 20 lakh for silver, Rs 15 lakh for bronze and Rs 7.5 lakh for participation, and the same scale applies to World Championships.

The scheme is meant to reward and motivate the state's athletes, keep talented players representing Uttarakhand, and recognise the coaches behind them. It sits within the Sports Department's wider work, which also includes the Khel Mahakumbh competitions and support for players.

How much are the cash awards?

According to the 2022 Directorate of Sports order, the cash awards for players are:

• Olympic Games: Rs 2 crore (gold), Rs 1.5 crore (silver), Rs 1 crore (bronze), Rs 50 lakh (participation).
• World Championships, Rs 30 lakh (gold), Rs 20 lakh (silver), Rs 15 lakh (bronze), Rs 7.5 lakh (participation).
• Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships, Rs 30 lakh (gold), Rs 20 lakh (silver), Rs 15 lakh (bronze), Rs 7.5 lakh (participation).

Coaches are recognised too: a coach receives 50 percent of the amount payable to the player, shared equally among the coaches, based on the medal won across sports competitions. By age category, junior athletes receive 50 percent and sub-junior athletes 25 percent of the corresponding senior amount. Athletes selected for major competitions can also receive 20 percent of the competition funds in advance, which is later adjusted against the medal award or refunded if they do not participate.

What are the named state sports honours?

Alongside the cash awards, Uttarakhand confers titled honours. According to the Sports Department's 2025 award notice, these include the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award, the Himalaya Ratna Sports Award, the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Dronacharya Award for coaches, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. For the Dronacharya Award, a coach's performance is judged on their athletes' achievements over the previous three years.

According to the 2025 award notice, the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Khel Ratna and Himalaya Ratna awards are judged on a player's achievements during the calendar year 2025. Nominees must have represented Uttarakhand in national competitions, and any player who was part of an Indian team in an international competition must have represented the state before that selection. This "represent the state first" rule is what keeps the awards tied to Uttarakhand's own athletes rather than to players who merely reside in the state.

Who is eligible for the Uttarakhand sports awards?

You can apply if:

• You are a sportsperson or coach from Uttarakhand and a permanent resident (domicile) of the state.
• You have represented Uttarakhand in national competitions; players selected for national/international teams must have previously represented the state.
• You have medals or recognised achievements at national or international level.
• You have the recommendation of the concerned state sports association.

You cannot apply / are not eligible if:

• You are not a permanent resident of Uttarakhand.
• You cannot show a state sports association recommendation or valid sports certificates.
• You have a record of doping, criminal conviction or a sexual-harassment allegation, which the required affidavit must rule out.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the Uttarakhand State Level Sports Awards

The awards are applied for offline, with applications sent to the Director of Sports. The Sports Department invites applications each year and announces a last date.

1. Gather your documents, educational certificates, sports certificates, a permanent residence certificate of Uttarakhand and the affidavit of a clean record.
2. Get the recommendation of the concerned state sports association for your sport.
3. Submit the application to the Director of Sports, Uttarakhand, before the announced deadline.
4. Await scrutiny, the department evaluates achievements (for example in the Olympics, World Cup and World Championships) and, for coaches, athletes' performance over the prior three years.

For the 2025 award round, the Sports Minister announced a last date of 14 July, so applicants should always confirm the current year's deadline with the Sports Department before applying.

How do I check the status of my application?

There is no separate public online tracker published for the awards. Applicants should follow up with the office of the Director of Sports, Uttarakhand, which receives and scrutinises the applications. The Sports Department's website is sports.uk.gov.in, which carries award notices and orders.

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

• No state sports association recommendation, this is a required attachment; obtain it before applying.
• Residence not proved — submit a valid Uttarakhand permanent residence certificate.
• Achievement not in the eligible competition band, the cash awards are tied to specific competitions and medals.
• Missing affidavit on doping, conviction or harassment; include the sworn declaration.
• Applying after the deadline. The window is annual, so submit within the announced dates.

How and when are the awards paid?

Cash awards are released after the department scrutinises the application, verifies the medal or achievement against the eligible competition band, and, for coaches, assesses the athletes' performance over the previous three years. Athletes selected for major competitions can draw 20 percent of the competition funds in advance, which is later adjusted against the medal award or refunded if they do not take part. Because payment follows verification, keeping original sports certificates and the state association's recommendation ready speeds up the release. The named honours, Khel Ratna, Himalaya Ratna, the Dronacharya Award for coaches and the Lifetime Achievement Award; are conferred at a state-level function.

Where do I get help?

The Directorate of Sports, Uttarakhand administers the awards, and its website is sports.uk.gov.in. Applications and queries go to the office of the Director of Sports. For sport-specific matters, the concerned state sports association is the body that recommends applicants and can guide athletes and coaches on eligibility and documents. For grievances not resolved at the directorate, the Uttarakhand CM Helpline 1905 records and routes complaints.