ONGC Sports Scholarship Scheme

To be eligible for the ONGC Sports Scholarship 2026-27 (Podium Aspirants Category), applicants must be Indian citizens, generally aged between 18 and 30 years as of September 1, 2026 (born between September 1, 1996, and September 1, 2008). The combined parental annual income must not exceed ₹30 Lakh per annum. Applicants should not be employed or earning money by playing in professional leagues, nor should they be receiving any other scholarship, stipend, or contract from any Central/State Government, Public Sector Enterprise, foundation, or private organization during the scholarship period.

The scholarship amount for the 2026-27 scheme ranges from ₹40,000 to ₹70,000 per month. The exact amount depends on the sportsperson's level of achievement and performance. This financial assistance is disbursed monthly directly into the player's bank account. Beyond the monthly stipend, scholars also receive playing kits with the ONGC logo, an individual health/accident insurance cover of up to ₹5,00,000, or reimbursement of self-insurance premium up to ₹7,000 per annum, and coverage for travel and daily allowances (TA/DA) along with necessary expenses for participating in domestic tournaments when representing ONGC.

The ONGC Sports Scholarship is initially granted for one year. It can be extended for up to three additional years for Podium Aspirants, subject to a satisfactory annual performance review. Scholars are required to submit quarterly performance reports to ONGC. Given it's a merit-based scheme, sportspersons typically need to re-apply each year. The renewal process involves logging into the official scholar portal, acknowledging the receipt of previous installments, and submitting a renewal form with updated details and performance records.