Indian chess federation launches player stipend scheme; hands out Rs 42 lakh to top youth talents

The All India Chess Federation has already distributed Rs 42.30 lakh to 42 top-ranked youth chess players across age groups.

The All India Chess Federation (AICF) on Wednesday launched the Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS), an initiative to help nurture and develop chess talent. The scheme marks a significant milestone in Indian chess development and the AICF has already dispatched its first quarterly stipends, ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per player.

In total the AICF disbursed ₹42.3 lakh to 42 of the country’s top youth talents. The financial support, issued for the April–June 2025 quarter, benefits players across U-7 to U-19 categories, reinforcing AICF’s commitment to nurturing young talent through sustained, structured backing.

The TNPSS aims to provide consistent financial support to top-ranking young talents, ensuring they can pursue international training and tournament exposure without the hindrance of economic constraints.

“This scheme is not merely symbolic,” said AICF President Nitin Narang, who is championing this project. “It is a demonstration of our deep commitment to nurturing India’s chess future. We are proud to back the promise of every young chess player with tangible support.”

The stipend program is part of a broader, ambitious initiative announced by AICF earlier, in which the federation earmarked ₹6.16 crore for stipends alone over a two-year period. This move follows AICF’s expansive chess development blueprint revealed in 2024, which pledged a record ₹65 crore towards the overall growth of the sport in India.

This includes a mix of player contracts, national-level rewards, infrastructure enhancements, and school-level outreach to popularize the game at the grassroots.

The stipend recipients are selected based on national rankings and performance metrics, with the goal of offering both encouragement and stability to those showing early promise. Importantly, the initiative also echoes the government’s broader agenda of investing in youth sports under the Khelo India framework.

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With India continuing to rise as a chess powerhouse—producing young prodigies and globally ranked players—programs like TNPSS are being seen as strategic investments in sustaining that momentum.

Experts believe that direct financial aid like this could bridge the gap between local talent and international success, especially in a sport where global travel, coaching, and preparation come with significant costs.

As the next quarter of stipends nears disbursement, the AICF’s actions are being widely appreciated across India’s chess community, setting a precedent for other federations to follow.

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