2014 · GS Paper 2 · Q12 · 12 marks
An athlete participates in Olympics for personal triumph and nation's glory; victors are showered with cash incentives by various agencies, on their return. Discuss the merit of state sponsored talent hunt and its cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
In short
State-sponsored talent hunt and cultivation has greater merit than cash rewards, because it builds a wide pipeline of athletes before success while rewards reach only finished winners. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (2014) funded Neeraj Chopra's training before his Tokyo 2020 javelin gold.
Model answer
Ghissu Editorial · Verified 4 Oct 2026 · 298 words
Widening the base
Khelo India (2018) scouts youngsters through school and youth games and funds them at accredited academies, reaching rural talent like Manipur's Mirabai Chanu that cannot afford private coaching.
Support at the critical stage
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (2014) funded foreign coaching for Neeraj Chopra before his Tokyo 2020 gold.
Global proof
UK Sport's lottery funding took Britain from one gold at Atlanta 1996 to 29 at London 2012.
Inclusion
Khelo India Para Games and the Tribal Games (2026) bring disabled and tribal youth into the pipeline.
Rationale
Prizes like Haryana's ₹6 crore for Olympic gold signal pride, inspire children and repay sacrifice.
Arrives too late
Rewards reach only those who have already won, often after unfunded struggle, and build no pipeline for the next generation.
Fragmented and populist
Competing announcements favour visibility over need, and coaches rarely share the credit.
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Question from the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014 paper. Answer written by Ghissu's engine and checked against our editorial standards. Found an error? Tell us and we correct it within 48 hours.