Tamil Nadu’s High Cash Incentive scheme pays state athletes, and their coaches, for medals at recognised national and international events. The rules are in G.O.(Ms) No. 18 of 29 July 2019, which replaced six earlier orders issued between 2002 and 2017. The money is routed through the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
The headline amounts change often; in October 2026 the state was paying ₹75 lakh for an Asian Games gold. The eligibility rules underneath have stayed the same since 2019, and they decide whether a medal earns anything at all. This guide explains them for athletes, parents and coaches in Chennai.
Who is eligible
- Residency. The athlete must have lived in Tamil Nadu for at least five years before the medal, shown by a nativity certificate. Students studying abroad and athletes training abroad are exempt.
- Representing the state. At national events, only medals won for Tamil Nadu count. In team events the whole team must be from Tamil Nadu.
- Recent state record. If the athlete played a National Championship or National Games, that appearance for Tamil Nadu must be within four years before the medal.
- Recognised events only. International events must be run by bodies recognised by the International Olympic Committee; national events by federations recognised through the IOA, the Paralympic Committee of India, the deaf sports council, Special Olympics Bharat or the blind sports association. Invitation, open and memorial tournaments do not qualify.
- One senior nationals a year. For each discipline, only the best senior national championship of the year counts.
How team medals are paid
A team medal is paid as a multiple of the individual amount, shared equally, but no member may get less than half the individual figure:
| Team size | Multiple of individual award |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1.5 times |
| 3 or 4 | 2 times |
| 5 to 10 | 3 times |
| More than 10 | 5 times |
The coach’s share
A coach gets 15 percent of the athlete’s award (15 percent of the team total for team events) if the athlete has trained under that coach for at least three years. The athlete must give a written undertaking, endorsed by the sports association. Coaches from anywhere in India qualify. There is no coach’s share for School Games or University Games medals.
What a typical award looks like
Individual cases are sanctioned by government order. In G.O.(Ms) No. 7 of 25 February 2022, for example, Chennai karateka N. Harsha received ₹8 lakh for gold and silver at the South Asian Karate Championship in Dhaka in 2019. Her event fell under the order’s category for SAF Championships and Senior Nationals, which then paid ₹5 lakh for gold, ₹3 lakh for silver and ₹2 lakh for bronze. The money was credited to an SDAT deposit account rather than paid in cash, after SDAT’s member secretary certified her eligibility.
Current rates at the top end
- Olympics and Paralympics: the gold award was raised from ₹3 crore to ₹5 crore, the Assembly was told in August 2026, DT Next reported. Support for athletes who qualify went from ₹7 lakh to ₹15 lakh.
- Olympic silver and bronze: ₹3 crore and ₹2 crore under the Dream Olympics 2036 programme launched on 8 October 2026, DT Next reported.
- Asian Games: ₹75 lakh, ₹50 lakh and ₹30 lakh for gold, silver and bronze, presented at the same event.
Rates for other events are set out in the annexure to G.O. 18 and later amending orders, which we could not open in full; check with SDAT for the figure that applies to your event.
How to apply
- Collect the medal certificate, the federation’s result sheet and proof of representing Tamil Nadu.
- Get a nativity certificate from the revenue office if you do not already have one.
- Apply through SDAT. The department’s 2023-24 policy note listed an online High Cash Incentive application on the SDAT portal as being developed; the office at Nehru Stadium, Periyamet, handles queries.
- Coaches claiming a share should attach the athlete’s undertaking endorsed by the association.
Awards depend on funds being available, so payment can take months after a medal.
Quick answers
Do open tournaments qualify for cash incentives?
No. Invitation, open and memorial events are excluded.
How long must I have lived in Tamil Nadu?
At least five years before the medal, shown by a nativity certificate.
Do coaches get anything?
Yes, 15 percent of the award if they coached the athlete for at least three years, except for School and University Games.
What does an Olympic gold earn now?
₹5 crore, after the August 2026 increase.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- G.O.(Ms) No.18, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, 29.07.2019 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- G.O.(Ms) No.7, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, 25.02.2022 (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Policy Note 2023-24, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Tamil Nadu enhances Olympic medal cash prize to Rs 5 crore (DT Next)
- Dream Olympic 2036: CM Vijay launches scheme (DT Next)
