Question

Which are the national awards that are given to sportpersons in India? What are the criteria for conferring those awards?

Answer 1

1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: India's highest sporting honour, instituted 1991-92, for outstanding sporting performance by an individual or team across all disciplines in a year. Prize: medal, scroll, ₹7,50,000.
2. Arjuna Award: Instituted 1961 for outstanding achievement in games and sport. Criteria: consistently good performance for the previous three years at international level, excellence in the year of recommendation, and leadership, sportspersonship and discipline. Prize: ₹5,00,000, bronze statuette of Arjuna, scroll.
3. Dhyan Chand Award: Lifetime achievement award for veteran sportspersons who have contributed to their sport and continue to promote it after retirement; instituted 2002. Prize: ₹5,00,000, statuette, scroll.
4. Dronacharya Award: It is appropriate that the coaching award is named after Dronacharya, as he was the Guru of Arjuna. The award comprises a plaque (bronze statuette of Dronacharya), a scroll of honour and a cash prize of ` 5,00,000 (Rupees five lakh).
5. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: Rolling trophy for the top overall university in Inter-University competitions.
6. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar (RKPP): Instituted 2009 to recognise contributions of entities other than sportspersons and coaches, such as corporates promoting sport.
7. Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award (TNNAA): Instituted 1993 for excelling in adventure activities on land, sea and air. Prize: statuette, certificate, ₹5 lakh.