MAINS 2014
GS2
12.5 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 cultivation as against the rationale of a reward mechanism as encouragement.
WRITE IN
9 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Compare the merits of state-sponsored talent identification with rewarding winners after the event.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Reward mechanism: motivates, recognises, but comes after success, benefits few already successful≈35 words
- 2Talent hunt: early identification, training, nutrition, coaching, sports science, broad base≈35 words
- 3Indian experience: lack of grassroots infrastructure, few medals despite population≈35 words
- 4Best mix: invest upstream, rewards as complement; private/CSR support≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Two approachesMerits and limits of eachIndia's recordCombined modelConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Picking one approach without comparison
- No Indian schemes
Draw this
- Pyramid: grassroots base → talent pool → elite athletes → medals
Value addition
- SchemeTarget Olympic Podium Scheme (2014) funds elite athletes; Khelo India (2018) builds grassroots talent.Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- DataIndia won 7 medals at Tokyo 2020 and 6 at Paris 2024.IOC
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 38 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 11 ↗Same syllabus reference
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