SRINAGAR: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has approved the Ladakh Sports Policy 2026, introducing monthly scholarships, one-time cash incentives and financial support aimed at helping athletes pursue competitive sports without economic constraints.
Delighted to approve the landmark New Sports Policy 2026 – a progress & futuristic framework to ensure financial sustenance of our young sportspersons and to transform Ladakh into a vibrant, self-sustaining sporting hub.
Guided by the mantra “Scout, Facilitate and Recognise,”… pic.twitter.com/xIzNzkcMfm
— LG Ladakh (@lg_ladakh) August 1, 2026
Announcing the decision on Saturday, Saxena described the policy as a landmark, future-oriented framework designed to transform Ladakh into a self-sustaining sporting hub while ensuring long-term financial security for young sportspersons.
According to an official spokesperson, the policy, guided by the motto “scout, facilitate and recognise”, provides, for the first time, monthly scholarships and cash rewards for medal winners at recognised international, national, state and school-level competitions, including the National School Games and Khelo India Games.
Under the scheme, international gold medallists will receive Rs 1 lakh per month, national gold medallists Rs 75,000 per month, and state-level gold medallists Rs 10,000 per month for 12 months from the date of winning their medals. Proportionate scholarships will be provided to silver and bronze medallists.
The administration said athletes who progress to higher levels of competition will automatically receive upgraded scholarships for a fresh one-year period without losing benefits already paid under the previous category.
In addition to the monthly assistance, the policy offers one-time cash incentives ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore for medal winners at recognised international, national, state and school-level events. These awards will be paid over and above the monthly scholarships.
The policy also introduces a one-time cash award of Rs 10 lakh for mountaineers from Ladakh who successfully summit peaks above 8,000 metres anywhere in the world.
Special cash awards have also been approved for outstanding performances in the Paralympic Games, Para Asian Games, Para Commonwealth Games, national para sports championships, and competitions for visually impaired, hearing-impaired and Special Olympics athletes.
According to the spokesperson, the policy was finalised after more than two months of consultations with stakeholders under the leadership of the Lieutenant Governor. The initiative followed representations from sportspersons and their families highlighting financial difficulties in pursuing training and competition.
In a post on X, Saxena said the policy aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting sports through initiatives such as Khelo India.
“The Ladakh Sports Policy 2026 is a long-term commitment to our youth for a vibrant sporting culture and an institutional support system to excel in sports,” Saxena said. He added that the policy aims to identify sporting talent at the grassroots while ensuring sustained financial support, institutional backing and continuous motivation throughout an athlete’s career.
Saxena said every medal won by a sportsperson from Ladakh is a matter of pride for the nation and that the administration has a responsibility to ensure talented athletes and their families are not burdened by the cost of pursuing sporting excellence.
