Article Title: Target Olympic Podium Scheme
30-06-2023
Polity & Governance Prelims Plus
Why is in news? Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry approves wrestlers Vinesh Phogat & Bajrang Punia's proposal for training in Kyrgyzstan & Hungary under TOPS
Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme was formulated in 2014 under overall ambit of National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the aim to identify, groom and prepare potential medal prospects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This was revamped in April 2018 to establish a technical support team for managing the TOPS athletes and providing holistic support.
High priority category has been created to put focus on those sports disciplines played in the Olympics in which India has won medals in the last conducted Asian Games as well as Commonwealth Games or in which India has a good chance of winning medals.
Presently, nine sports disciplines viz., (i) Athletics, (ii) Badminton (iii) Hockey (iv) Shooting (v) Tennis (vi) Weightlifting (vii) Wrestling, (viii) Archery and (ix) Boxing have been categorised as ‘High Priority’.
The National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established in 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890 and was notified by the Government of India in November, 1998.
The purpose of the fund is to impart momentum and flexibility to assisting the cause of sports in India.
It helps sportspersons excel by providing them with varied opportunities to train under coaches of international repute, provide financial assistance for development of infrastructure and other activities for promotion of sports.
UPSC / PCM - 2026 / NEW REGULAR BATCH STARTS ON AUG-3, 2025 
