Delhi government hikes Olympic Awards, offers group 'A' jobs to gold and silver medallists

In a significant move to bolster its sports ecosystem and encourage budding talent, the Delhi government has substantially hiked the cash awards for Olympic and Paralympic medallists from the Capital, Minister Ashish Sood announced on Tuesday. Alongside the increased financial incentives, the government has also decided to offer coveted Group A jobs to gold and silver medallists, while bronze winners will be provided with Group B positions in the Delhi government. These decisions were taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi Secretariat.

Under the revamped Mukhyamantri Khel Prothsahan Yojana, Olympic and Paralympic gold medallists will now receive a staggering ₹7 crore, a more than twofold increase from the previous ₹3 crore. Silver medallists will be awarded ₹5 crore, up from ₹2 crore, and bronze medallists will take home ₹3 crore, a threefold jump from the earlier ₹1 crore. Minister Sood emphasized that these enhanced awards are designed to "encourage the sports ecosystem" within the capital, aiming to motivate athletes to strive for excellence on the global stage.

In a separate but equally impactful announcement, Minister Sood also unveiled details of the Mukhyamantri Digital Scheme. Under this initiative, 1,200 meritorious students who have successfully passed their Class 10 exams with good marks and are progressing to Class 11 will be provided with free i7 laptops. This scheme, first announced by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta in the March budget, aims to ensure the holistic development of youth, particularly benefiting students from underprivileged backgrounds by bridging the digital divide and supporting their educational journey.