Overview
A DoPT scheme under which central government employees who win medals in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games or World Championships (or set a record-breaking medal performance in the National Games) can be promoted out of turn by upgrading their post personal to them, up to three times in a career. Coaches whose trainees win medals in those events are also covered, and the scheme extends to equivalent events for differently-abled sportspersons. It does not apply to Railways services or to services under the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Space, the erstwhile Department of Electronics and the Scientific and Technical Services under DRDO.
Key details
- Official guidelines PDF
- 📄 Download PDF ↗
Note: The EPFO copy is the DoPT memorandum itself, which EPFO circulated for its own recruitment. It reproduces the out-of-turn promotion scheme of 26 July 2012. Cases are handled by the employee's own ministry or department.
Official documents
Notices and PDFs published by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, including earlier years. Links checked 2026-10-06.
- 📄 DoPT consolidated instructions on recruitment/promotion of sportspersons, OM dated 4 March 2024 (copy circulated by EPFO) ↗DoPT OM No. 14034/1/2020-Pers. Policy (D) Pt. Vol.II dated 4 March 2024Ministry page ↗
Eligibility
- ▸ Medal-winning performance in regular disciplines of the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games or World Championships; or a record-breaking medal-winning performance in an individual discipline at the National Games conducted by the Indian Olympic Association (one out-of-turn promotion in a career).
- ▸ In team events the sportsperson must have played at least 50% of the matches in the event; reserve players are not eligible.
- ▸ A medal is required; a better-than-national-record performance without a medal does not qualify.
- ▸ No out-of-turn promotion is granted during the probation period.
Benefits
- ✓ Out-of-turn promotion by upgradation of the post personal to the sportsperson, until the post is vacated; no new post is created and no level jumping is allowed.
- ✓ A maximum of three out-of-turn promotions in the entire career; a medal winner receives one out-of-turn promotion for a year in which he or she wins one or more medals.
- ✓ Pay is fixed as in a regular promotion, the promotion takes effect from the date the event ends, and the entitlement should be processed within three months of the event.
- ✓ Coaches: the main coach of a medal-winning sportsperson or team can be considered; coaches are capped at two with a gap of four years, and the total of three across a career includes any earlier ones.
Application process
The administrative ministry or department of the employee is responsible for considering the case within three months of the event; employees should contact their department's establishment section. DoPT's prior approval is needed to relax any provision.
Apply via: The administrative ministry or department of the employee is responsible for considering the case within three months of the event; employees should contact their department's establishment section. DoPT's prior approval is needed to relax any provision.