TOPS stands for Target Olympic Podium Scheme, the Union sports ministry's programme for helping selected Indian athletes prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its support combines a monthly allowance with approved training expenses, including overseas preparation, competitions, equipment and coaching. The published allowance is Rs 50,000 a month for Core Group athletes and Rs 25,000 for Development Group athletes.
The scheme is about an athlete's preparation for elite competition. A monthly payment is only one part of it. For a family trying to understand what government support covers, the more useful questions are who selects the athlete, which training costs can be approved and how continued support is reviewed.
| TOPS question | Official explanation |
|---|---|
| Full form | Target Olympic Podium Scheme |
| Launched | September 2014 |
| Revamped | April 2018, with a technical support team |
| Core Group allowance | Rs 50,000 per month |
| Development Group allowance | Rs 25,000 per month |
| Training programme approvals | Mission Olympic Cell |
The scheme details and allowance figures above were checked at 00:15 IST on 14 November 2026 against the Sports Authority of India website and the ministry's published explanations. These are the published support rates, rather than a statement about any particular athlete's payment or current selection status.
What is the TOPS scheme and why was it started?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports launched TOPS in September 2014 to improve India's performance at the Olympics and Paralympics. According to the Sports Authority of India's TOPS page, the programme was revamped in April 2018 to establish a technical team that could manage athletes' requirements and provide broader support.
That design recognises that elite athletes can need different preparation plans. One may require foreign training and access to a particular coach; another may need competition exposure or specialised equipment. SAI lists foreign training, international competition, equipment and coaching camps among the kinds of assistance the scheme provides.
The ministry's 28 November 2024 explanation of financial support to athletes says selected athletes receive assistance from the National Sports Development Fund for customised training and support unavailable under normal ministry schemes. This explains why TOPS is described through individual training plans, rather than one identical package for every sport.
TOPS Core Group and Development Group allowances
The same ministry explanation identifies the Core Group's out of pocket allowance as Rs 50,000 per month and the Development Group's allowance as Rs 25,000. A PIB backgrounder published in August 2026 also describes these rates, explaining that the Development Group supports junior athletes.
The allowance should be read separately from an approved preparation budget. The ministry says expenditure on the training plan submitted by a sportsperson and approved by the Mission Olympic Cell is met under TOPS, in addition to the allowance. Simply multiplying the monthly payment by twelve therefore does not describe all the assistance an athlete may receive.
Equally, a training budget cannot be treated as unrestricted cash available to every applicant. The official explanation attaches that expenditure to a plan, its consideration and its approval. The distinction matters whenever a social media message presents a large TOPS support figure without explaining what the money is intended to fund.
Who selects TOPS athletes and reviews their progress?
SAI describes an identification structure for elite athletes with Olympic podium potential. Its scheme history refers to an elite athletes' identification committee, while its selection and review section explains that the Mission Olympic Cell evaluates athletes' proposals and periodically reviews their progress and performances.
On the committee's recommendation, athletes may be included, retained or excluded. Selection should therefore be understood as a reviewed sporting decision. Neither the name of the scheme nor its published monthly allowance establishes an automatic entitlement for every person taking part in competitive sport.
The cell's listed functions go beyond approving expenditure. They include monitoring progress against training programmes, communicating with athletes about their requirements, responding to unforeseen needs and ensuring documentation and contractual obligations. For a selected athlete, the training plan and subsequent review are central parts of the support arrangement.
Is TOPS the same as Khelo India or the Arjuna Award?
These names describe different forms of sports support and recognition. SAI describes TOPS around Olympic and Paralympic preparation. Its TOPS NCOE section separately discusses talent identification, collaboration with national sports federations and support at National Centres of Excellence. That section should not be mistaken for a general TOPS cash application notice.
Readers exploring an earlier development pathway can consult our guide to Khelo India scholarship eligibility and selection. Those researching recognition for sporting achievement can read the separate Arjuna Award eligibility guide. For a competition rules reference, see our explanation of javelin throw rules and measurement.
To understand an individual TOPS case, check the athlete group, the approved preparation requirements and the relevant selection or review decision. Those details explain the support more accurately than the allowance alone.
