Sports Awards and Honours

Rajib Gandhi Khel Ratna:

• The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna officially known as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games is the highest sporting honor of the Republic of India.
• The award is named after lateRajib Gandhi, former PM of India who served the office 1984 to 1989.
• It was awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sportsevery year to support and honour extraordinary players.
• It comprises a medal, a certificate and a cash prize of 25 lakhs.
• It is instituted in the year 1991-92 and first awarded in this year.
• It was first awarded to Viswanathan Anand for Chess.

Dhyan Chand Award:

• Dhyan Chand Award is India’s highest award for lifetime achievement in sports and games given by the Ministry of Youth Affair and SportsGovt. of India.
• The award is named after the legendary Indian hockey player Dhyan Chand.
• The award was initiated in 2002.
• The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, a statuette, a certificate, ceremonial dress of honour.
• First awarded to –
  • (i) Aparna Ghosh, for Basketball
  • (ii) Ashok Diwan, for Hockey
  • (iii) ShahurajBirajdar, for Boxing

Arjuna Award:

• It was instituted and first awarded in the year 1961.
• Thisaward is given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National Sports.
• It carries a cash prize of 15 lakhs, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a Scroll.
• The first recipient of this award was Krishna Das for in 1981.

Dronacharya Award:

• It is an award presented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India for excellence in Sports Coaching.
• The award was instituted in 1985 and first awarded also.
• The award comprises a bronze statuette of Dronacharya, a Scroll of honour and cash component of Rs. 15 Lakhs in Regular Category.
• The first sportsperson to get this award was O.M. Nambiar in 1985 for Athletics.

Ekalavya Award:

• Ekalavya Award is a Sports award, awarded by the Government of Karnataka for outstanding performance in sports.
• It was first awarded in 1994.
• The first recipient of this award was Najib Aga.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award:

• This award is given by the Government of Punjab for excellence and achievement in the service of Punjab in the field of sports.
• This award was instituted in 1978.
• It consists of a trophy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a citation and 1 Lakh Cash prize.
• The first recipient of this award was Olympian Pargat Singh.