Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS):
- It was launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to provide customized support to elite athletes.
- The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) is the body responsible for selecting athletes under this scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Q 2. The National Sports Development Code of India, which has frequently been in the news regarding the governance of National Sports Federations (NSFs), was introduced in which year?
A) 2005
B) 2011
C) 2015
D) 2020 Q 3. With reference to India’s historical performance at the Olympic Games, arrange the following milestones in chronological order (from earliest to latest):
- K.D. Jadhav winning India’s first individual Olympic medal post-independence.
- The Indian men’s hockey team winning its first-ever Olympic gold medal.
- Abhinav Bindra winning India’s first individual Olympic gold medal.
- Karnam Malleswari becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3
B) 1 – 2 – 4 – 3
C) 2 – 1 – 3 – 4
D) 1 – 2 – 3 – 4
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding anti-doping regulations in India:
- The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is a statutory body established under the National Anti-Doping Act.
- The National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) operates directly under the administrative control of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Q 5. Under the Constitution of India, ‘Sports’ as a subject falls under which of the following lists in the Seventh Schedule?
A) Union List (List I)
B) State List (List II)
C) Concurrent List (List III)
D) It is a residuary power vested solely in the Parliament
Answers with explanation
Q 1: C) Both 1 and 2
- Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. TOPS was launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics by providing specialized training, international exposure, and a monthly stipend to top athletes. Statement 2 is correct. The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) is a dedicated committee that evaluates athletes’ performance and selects them for the TOPS core and development groups.
Q 2: B) 2011
- Explanation: The National Sports Development Code of India was issued by the Government of India in 2011 to bring transparency, accountability, and good governance to National Sports Federations (NSFs). It mandates restrictions on tenure and age limits for sports administrators, which remains a highly debated topic in UPSC current affairs due to frequent judicial interventions in sports bodies.
Q 3: A) 2 – 1 – 4 – 3
- Explanation:
Q 4: A) 1 only
- Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. NADA became a statutory body following the passage of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. While it must be accredited by WADA to conduct valid tests, it does not operate under WADA’s administrative control.
Q5 B) State List (List II)
- Explanation: In the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, “Sports" is covered under Entry 33 of the State List (alongside entertainment, amusements, and theaters). However, there are ongoing policy discussions and recommendations (such as from the National Sports Policy reviews) to move it to the Concurrent List to allow the Central Government to create uniform national legislation for sports development.