CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -A monthly stipend of Rs. 50, 000 is also provided to each athlete.

Detailed explanation-2: -TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is an attempt to provide assistance to India’s top athletes. The Scheme looks to add a premium to the preparations of these athletes so that they can win medals in the Olympics.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Target Olympic Podium Scheme or TOPS was launched in 2014 under the aegis of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), GOI. The chief objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance and other help to athletes in their pursuit of medals in the Olympics and other international sporting events.

Detailed explanation-4: -Eminent athletes Pullela Gopichand, Rahul Dravid, Abhinav Bindra, and Manisha Malhotra, as well as sports administrators from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the MYAS [DG SAI and JS (Sports)], made up the first committee, which was established under the chairmanship of Shri. Anurag Thakur (MP).

Detailed explanation-5: -The TOPS programme began under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2014 and was boosted in 2018 to improve India’s medal hunt at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and beyond.