AICF awards Rs 42.3 lakh in quarterly stipends to 42 junior players

The All India Chess Federation has approved quarterly stipends totaling Rs 42.3 lakh for 42 top junior players spanning the Under-7 to Under-19 categories. Selected on the basis of their 2024 National Championship performances, the beneficiaries will receive between Rs 60,000-Rs 1.5 lakh each to assist with coaching and travel.

The federation presented the programme as a landmark measure aimed at bolstering India’s junior chess ranks. Funds will be distributed quarterly to the chosen youngsters, with the selection tied directly to results from the 2024 National Championship. The stipend range, set to cover coaching fees and travel expenses, is intended to ease financial pressures on promising players and their families. AICF officials framed the effort as part of a broader strategy to deepen the country’s grassroots chess structure.

Recipients come from age groups running from Under-7 through Under-19, reflecting a cross-section of India’s junior competitive ladder. The selection criterion was explicitly performance-based, relying on placements and achievements at the 2024 National Championship. By anchoring the scheme to those results, the federation sought to reward merit and create a transparent basis for support.

The quarterly package totals Rs 42.3 lakh and will be disbursed among the 42 selected juniors. Individual awards fall within a band of Rs 60,000-Rs 1.5 lakh, depending on the federation’s allocation. The funds are earmarked for direct player needs such as coaching and travel, providing targeted assistance rather than general grants.

Officials emphasized the programme’s potential to remove barriers that can impede talented youngsters from advancing. The federation described the move as a historic initiative intended to remove financial barriers and strengthen India's grassroots chess ecosystem. By offering regular, performance-linked support, the AICF aims to sustain development pathways for emerging players.

The stipends represent a focused investment in junior talent at a formative stage of development. For the 42 beneficiaries, the quarterly support is designed to reduce out-of-pocket burdens and help maintain competitive progression. The federation’s initiative underscores a commitment to nurturing the next generation of Indian chess players.