IndianOil Sports Scholarship (Acers)

IndianOil Acers is the sports scholarship programme of Indian Oil Corporation Limited that identifies and supports young Indian sportspersons aged 13 to 19 years. The scheme provides annual financial assistance, sports kits, and other support to nurture sporting talent at an early stage and help young athletes pursue their sport at higher levels.

The scholarship is open to Indian citizens within the eligible age band who demonstrate measurable performance in their chosen sport. The scheme offers two categories of awards. The Elite Scholar category is for athletes representing the country in team games or holding national rankings between 1 and 5 in junior or sub-junior individual events, or finishing as semi-finalist or finalist in the national championship for individual events. The Scholar category is for athletes representing their state in team games, holding national rankings between 6 and 10 in individual events, or qualifying as quarter-finalists in the national championship.

Selected scholars receive financial assistance disbursed annually for up to three years subject to satisfactory performance. The Elite Scholar receives ₹15,000 in the first year, ₹17,000 in the second year, and ₹19,000 in the third year. The Scholar category receives ₹12,000, ₹14,000, and ₹16,000 across the three years respectively. The scheme covers nineteen sporting disciplines including Cricket, Hockey, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Chess, Carrom, Billiards & Snooker, Golf, Archery, Boxing, Gymnastics, Shooting, Swimming, and Wrestling.

IndianOil reserves 50% of scholar seats for female sportspersons to encourage women's participation in sports. The performance of every scholar is reviewed annually, and the scholarship continues only if the athlete demonstrates progress in his or her sport.