UP’s Big Boost for Athletes: Why the State Has Finally Decided to Count Competition Days as ‘On Duty’

Lucknow | December 3, 2025 The Uttar Pradesh government has cleared a major policy change aimed at easing the lives of sportspersons employed in state jobs. The Cabinet, led by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, has approved a proposal that allows national and international athletes working under the state to be treated as “on duty” whenever they take part in competitions, travel for events, or attend training and sports camps. The move addresses a long-standing concern among athletes, especially those from the UP Police and other state-run departments, who often struggled with leave approvals, salary cuts and complicated paperwork. Many said that even representing India abroad sometimes cost them their pay, as earlier rules did not consider sports events as part of official duty. According to minister Suresh Khanna, the existing Uttar Pradesh Antarrashtriya Padak Vijeta Sidhi Bharti Rules, 2022, did not mention any provision for treating participation in competitions or camps as official duty. As a result, athletes frequently ran into trouble when applying for leave or permission to represent the state or country. With the new approval, the government has now officially removed that barrier. Khanna explained that from now on, the duration of any competition, camp or travel related to sports events will be counted as duty, eliminating delays and confusion. Officials familiar with the change said that this decision will benefit over 3,000 sportspersons, most working in departments like the police. Many of them had earlier faced deductions in salary and questioned the fairness of the system, especially when they were representing Uttar Pradesh or India. The new policy promises smooth participation without fear of penalties. RP Singh, director of sports, said the change is much needed and long overdue. He added that it will help athletes focus fully on their training and performance, without worrying about administrative hurdles. State employees recruited through the sports quota also welcomed the decision, saying it now brings UP in line with several other states where sportspersons are already considered on duty during competitions and exposure trips. The Cabinet meeting where the decision was made also approved 20 other proposals. These included clearance of incentives under investment policies for three companies: Paswara Papers Limited in Meerut, KR Pulp and Papers in Shahjahanpur, and Brindavan Agro Industries in Mathura. As part of this, revised SGST reimbursements and additional incentive amounts were sanctioned. Officials said this mix of reforms—for athletes and investors—reflects the state’s approach toward creating a more supportive and efficient system for both sports and industry. For sportspersons, however, the immediate impact is clear: less stress, fewer formalities, and more freedom to train and compete without worrying about losing pay or leave. The new rules are expected to come as a major relief for athletes preparing for upcoming national and international events, making the sports ecosystem in UP more encouraging than ever. UP’s Big Boost for Athletes: Why the State Has Finally Decided to Count Competition Days as ‘On Duty’ Uttar Pradesh has rolled out a much-needed relief for its athletes, and it’s already being called a game-changer. The state Cabinet has approved a major decision that will now count national and international competitions, training camps and even travel days as “on duty” for all sportspersons working in government jobs. For years, athletes—especially those in the UP Police and other state departments—struggled with leave approvals, pay cuts and endless paperwork whenever they had to represent the state or the country. This update finally clears that hurdle. The announcement was made after a Cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. Earlier rules from 2022 did not include provisions for treating sports events as official duty, which left many athletes worrying about their attendance records even while competing abroad. With the new approval, they can now train, travel and participate without fearing salary losses. According to officials, over 3,000 sportspersons will directly benefit from this step. State sports officials and players have welcomed the move, saying it brings UP in line with other states where athletes already enjoy such support. Many said this decision will help them focus on performance instead of constantly juggling between duty and competitions. The government believes this will encourage more young players to take up sports seriously, knowing they won’t be punished for chasing medals. The Cabinet also cleared incentive packages for three companies under the state’s investment policies, but it was the athlete-friendly decision that truly stood out. With the new rules in place, UP hopes to create a more supportive and stress-free environment for its players, especially those gearing up for national and international events.