NEW DELHI: All medal winners in national sporting events and participants in recognized international sporting events will get education free of cost at publicly funded colleges and universities. The human resource development ministry and the University Grants Commission have decided to offer this financial assistance as part of an effort to promote sports in higher education. 

The idea is to ensure that medal winners and other sportspersons are encouraged to achieve higher levels of performance by providing assistance in education and sporting development. 

Winning a medal in a national event or participation in international events recognized by the World University Service, International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Committee of Asia will guarantee a scholarship for the academic year. For the subsequent year, the award of the scholarship will depend on their subsequent sports performance. 

Scholarships for medal winners and participants in the Olympics, World Championship, medal winners at Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Afro-Asian Games, and SAF Games (category 1) will comprise the actual cost of a bachelor's degree, post graduate diploma, and post-graduate degree. While participation at the SAF Games and medals at the National level competitions (category 2) will assure 75% of the costs. Students pursuing a MBA, professional course or M Phil in category 1 will get Rs 7500 per month along with the actual costs of the course, while those in category 2 will get Rs 5000 per month. Those pursuing a PhD will get scholarships in accordance with UGC's junior research fellowship if they are in Category 1 or for category 2, it is Rs 5000 per month and actuals of the programme. All eligible students will get free hostel facilities, kit allowance and allowance for special courses abroad. 

However, participation in sporting events cannot be seen to hamper educational achievements. So the ministry guidelines make clear that to make up for loss of classes, special efforts will have to made to complete the syllabus and make up for attendance. The attempt is to avoid a situation similar to that of the India under 19 cricket captain Unmukt Chand, who was not permitted by St Stephens college to appear for his examination on account of low attendance. 

Universities and colleges will submit regular reports to the UGC, which is the final arbitrator. The UGC can terminate scholarship if there is any misconduct reported by the university or college, or if the candidate fails their examination.