IIT Madras sports scholarship: Rs 40,000 a month for 90 young athletes, apply by November 16
By TUF News Desk · Published 31 October 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
National-level athletes aged 15 to 19 have until November 16 to apply for a scholarship that pays Rs 40,000 a month. The SBI Foundation ACE Potential Athlete Sports Scholarship, run with Indian Institute of Technology Madras and its Acrophase initiative, will support 90 young athletes for one year. India CSR puts the total value of the scholarships at more than Rs 4 crore.
The programme is aimed at athletes who are already competing nationally but may not have steady funding for training, equipment and travel. Along with the monthly stipend, each selected athlete gets sports science-based performance assessments and personalised nutrition guidance from IIT Madras Acrophase. The idea is to pair money with measurement, so a young athlete’s training is shaped by data on their body and performance rather than guesswork.
Who can apply
Applicants must be Indian citizens competing at the national level, and they must be between 15 and 19 years old. The 90 places are split equally between boys and girls, with 45 each.
Seven sports are covered. Athletics gets the largest share at 18 places, followed by swimming and shooting with 16 each. Archery has 12 places, wrestling and boxing have 10 each, and badminton has 8. Together, the sport-wise split adds up to the full 90.
Selection is based on sporting merit. When two candidates are otherwise equally matched, preference goes to those from lower-income families. Our guide to scholarships for Indian university students explains how such need-based preferences usually work alongside merit criteria.
What Acrophase brings to the programme
Acrophase is IIT Madras’s human performance research centre, and the institute describes it as India’s first centre of its kind. Its work draws on wearable technology, research from IIT Madras, and expertise in human physiology and biomechanics to build training programmes for athletes.
The scholarship is a joint effort. SBI Foundation and the Wadhwani Foundation partner with Acrophase, and the same model already supports para-athletes through a separate SBI Foundation programme. Prof. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, who heads Acrophase at IIT Madras, said the 15 to 19 age group is the point where an athlete’s future is shaped. “The years between 15 and 19 are when an athlete’s body, technique and habits take shape, and the right scientific inputs at this point can define an entire career,” he said.
The first cohort of SBIF ACE para-athlete scholars won 70 medals at national and international competitions in a single year, according to the same report. The junior programme now extends that support model to able-bodied athletes, with the stated aim of building a pipeline of young sportspersons for future Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
How to apply
Applications opened on October 7 and close on November 16, 2026. Eligible athletes can apply through the official scholarship portal. Applicants should keep their national-level competition records and personal details ready before starting the form, since the window closes in a little over two weeks.
For athletes aged 15 to 19 who are already competing nationally, the combination on offer is unusual: a monthly stipend that covers training costs, plus regular scientific assessment of how that training is working.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for the IIT Madras SBI Foundation athlete scholarship?
November 16, 2026. Applications opened on October 7, 2026, and are submitted through the official SBIF ACE junior scholarship portal.
Who can apply for the Potential Athlete Sports Scholarship?
Indian citizens aged 15 to 19 who compete at the national level in athletics, swimming, boxing, wrestling, shooting, archery or badminton.
How much does the scholarship pay?
Each selected athlete receives Rs 40,000 a month for one year, along with sports science assessments and nutrition guidance.
How are athletes selected for the scholarship?
Selection is based on sporting merit, with preference given to candidates from lower-income families when applicants are otherwise equally matched.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to apply for the IIT Madras SBI Foundation athlete scholarship?
November 16, 2026. Applications opened on October 7, 2026, and are submitted through the official SBIF ACE junior scholarship portal.
Who can apply for the Potential Athlete Sports Scholarship?
Indian citizens aged 15 to 19 who compete at the national level in athletics, swimming, boxing, wrestling, shooting, archery or badminton.
How much does the scholarship pay?
Each selected athlete receives Rs 40,000 a month for one year, along with sports science assessments and nutrition guidance.
How are athletes selected for the scholarship?
Selection is based on sporting merit, with preference given to candidates from lower-income families when applicants are otherwise equally matched.
Sources: IANS, Punjab Kesari, India CSR