The Rajasthan government of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has approved out-of-turn government appointments for 235 medal-winning athletes, including 73 para-athletes, in a significant push to reward sporting excellence with public-sector employment. The decision, formalised on 6 November 2026, will see nine athletes elevated to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), with the remainder placed across a range of state government departments.

Key Decisions from the State-Level Committee

The approvals were finalised at the seventh meeting of the state-level appointments committee, chaired by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas at the Government Secretariat in Jaipur. The committee reviewed 286 applications from general and para-athletes and cleared proposals for 235 candidates, leaving 51 applications either pending or rejected after scrutiny.

The appointments are structured into three categories based on the nature of the position offered. This tiered system ensures that high-performing athletes are matched to roles commensurate with their recognised achievements at national and international competitions.

Category-Wise Breakdown of Appointments

Under Category A, nine athletes will be appointed as DSPs — among the most prestigious postings available through this route. Category B covers two athletes being inducted into the Excise Department, one as a Patrolling Officer and the other as a Sub-Inspector.

The bulk of appointments — 224 athletes — fall under Category C, covering positions such as Clerk Grade-II, Constable, Excise Constable, Excise Guard, and Deputy Jailor. This category includes all 73 para-athletes whose inclusion ensures that sportspersons excelling in para-sports are not excluded from the initiative.

Building on Earlier Employment Drive

This latest round follows an earlier phase in which the Rajasthan government had already provided out-of-turn appointments to 187 medal-winning athletes since December 2023. With the new batch of 235 appointments now cleared, the cumulative count under the state's sports employment policy surpasses 420 athletes given government jobs through this route.

The policy is designed to incentivise sporting ambition by offering athletes a stable livelihood in exchange for medal-worthy performances — an acknowledgement that competitive sports careers rarely guarantee financial security beyond the podium.

Relief for Athletes in the Forest Department

The committee also turned its attention to athletes already serving in the Forest Department, where officials discussed service-related difficulties these sportspersons have encountered. The meeting examined an action plan to address their grievances and considered proposals for a one-time relaxation in service rules to facilitate inter-departmental transfers wherever required.

These measures, if implemented, are expected to allow serving athletes to be placed in roles that better align with their skills and professional profile, ensuring the state derives greater value from their capabilities.

What Comes Next

With formal approval now in place, the appointed athletes are expected to be inducted into their respective departments through the standard onboarding process. The continued expansion of the out-of-turn appointments programme signals that the Bhajanlal Sharma government views sports patronage as a durable policy priority, particularly ahead of upcoming national and international multi-sport events where Rajasthan athletes are expected to compete.