The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has rolled out the Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS), providing financial support to promising young Indian chess players. Under this initiative, the federation disbursed stipends ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per player, totalling Rs 42,30,000 for the April–June quarter of the current financial year.
For the first time in the history of Indian Chess, quarterly stipends ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹1,50,000, totalling ₹42,30,000 for the first quarter of 2025, have been disbursed to 42 top players across the U-7 to U-19 categories (both open and girls), based on their… pic.twitter.com/MF5594cbkb
— Nitin Narang (@narangnitin) June 25, 2025
The first batch of 42 top-ranked players—selected based on their standout performances in last year’s national championships—received the stipends. These players span across both boys and girls categories in age groups from Under-7 to Under-19 (U7, U9, U11, U13, U15, U17, and U19).
The TNPSS comes with a significant budgetary allocation of Rs 6.15 crore, aimed at nurturing the country’s brightest chess talent.
These stipends will directly support players’ coaching and travel needs, helping them compete internationally and pursue their ambitions confidently. Inspired by PM Modi’s call to empower grassroots athletes, the AICF has moved from vision to action, implementing a key part of the national chess development plan to strengthen India’s chess ecosystem.
“For far too long, financial hurdles have hindered the dreams of our chess players,” AICF President Nitin Narang said in a statement, explaining the vision behind the TNPSS. “The high costs of travel, training, and international competition have often forced talented players to give up their passion — a true loss for our nation. TNPSS is our strong response to these challenges — a decisive step toward a player-first policy that enables our youth to fully dedicate themselves to mastering the game and excelling on the chessboard.”
“For the first time in our history, we are making a direct investment in the future of our ‘golden girls and boys,’ giving them the steady financial support needed to turn their talent into success. This is more than just a token gesture; it’s a powerful show of our commitment and a spark for their dreams,” Narang added. “A key goal is to elevate the importance of national tournaments, as they form the backbone of a strong chess ecosystem in Bharat. It is through these nationals that we can discover and nurture emerging talent.”
Full List of Chess Players Benefiting from the Top National Players Stipend Scheme
Under 7
Open: Devanarayanan Kalliyath, Prayank Gaonkar, Aaradhyo Guin
Girls: Aaranya R, Arpitangshi Bhattacharya, Saiaastha Singh
Under 9
Open: Nidhish Shyamal, Aarit Kapil, Divith Reddy Adulla
Girls: Kiyanna Parihaar, Divi Bijesh, Vanshika Rawat
Under 11
Open: Madhvendra Pratap Sharma, Advik Amit Agrawal, Aarav A
Girls: Pratitee Bordoloi, Aadya Gowda, Divi Bijesh
Under 13
Open: Reyan Md, Sherla Prathamesh, Pranav Sai Ram R S
Girls: Saranya Devi Narahari, Nivedita V C, Nihira Koul
Under 15
Open: Ilamparthi A R, Vaz Ethan, Sherla Prathamesh
Girls: Prishita Gupta, Jain Ashita, Saparya Ghosh
Under 17
Open: Sriram Adarsh Uppala, Arpith S Bijoy, Jaiveer Mahendru
Girls: Tejaswini G, Kirthika B, Anupam M Sreekumar
Under 19
Open: Adireddy Arjun, Sourath Biswas, Jaiveer Mahendru
Girls: Mrittika Mallick, Velpula Sarayu, Sneha Halder
