The National Sports Award is the highest annual national award for a sportsperson in the country. The award is administered by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The award is usually given to the award winner by the President of India in a function organised at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi on 29 August on the occasion of National Sports Day. National Sports Day is observed on 29 August which is the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.

However, the winner of the 2024 National Sports Award will be conferred the award on 17 January 2025 at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

National Sports Award

The National Sports Award is a collection of seven awards given in various categories to sportspersons, coaches, and universities for excellence in the field of sports.

The first sports award to be instituted by the government of India was the Arjuna Award in 1961. Now the National Sports Awards include the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the Arjuna Award, the Dronacharya Award, the Major Dhyan Chand Award, the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, and the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar and the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sports award in India. It was earlier called as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and was instituted in 1991-92.
It was renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
It is given to a sportsperson for their outstanding performances over four years immediately preceding the year during which the award is to be given.
First recipient - Vishwanatahan Award (Chess) in 1991-92.
First woman- Karnam Malleswari (Weightlifter) in 1994-95.
Youngest - Shooter Abhinav Bindra in 2001 at 18 years of age.
2024 winner- Manu Bhaker(shooting), D . Gukesh (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Praveen Kumar(Para-athlete)
The awardee is given a medal, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize.

Arjuna Award

Instituted in 1961
Given to sportspersons for their consistently good performance over a period of four years at the International level and have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and a sense of discipline.
In 1961, 20 sportspersons were honoured with the Arjuna Award.
First women- Hockey player Anna Lumsden in 1961.
In 2024- 26 sportspersons were awarded.
The awardees are given a statuette, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize.

Dronacharya Award

It was instituted in 1985.
It is given to coaches who have trained teams or sportspersons who have performed outstandingly at the international level.
It is given in two categories - Regular, Lifetime.
First - Bhalchnadra Bhagwat (wrestling), Om Prakash Bhardwaj (Boxing), Om Nambiar (athletics).
First woman winner- Renu Kohli (athletics) in 2002.
The awardee is given a statuette of Guru Dronacharya, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize.

Arjuna Lifetime Award (earlier Dhyanchand Award)

The Arjuna Lifetime Award was earlier called the Dhyanchand Award for Life Time Achievements in Sports and Games.
In 2024 it was renamed as Arjuna Lifetime Award.
It was instituted in 2002.
It is given to sportspersons for their contribution to sports when they were active and even after retirement.
First recipient - Shahuraj Birajdar (boxer), Ashok Diwan (hockey), and Aparna Ghosh(basketball)
First Women - Aparna Ghosh
The awardees are given a statuette, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy

It was earlier called as Runny Trophy and later renamed Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy.
It was instituted in 1956-57.
It is given to the winner of the inter-university games.
First recipient - Bombay University
2024 winner - Chandigarh University
Record 22 times recipient - Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab
The winner receives a Trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize which is to be utilised for the development of sports.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards

Instituted in 1993-94 by the government of India in memory of Tenzing Norgay who was the sherpa of Edmund Hillary of New Zealand.
Both were the first person to climb the world’s highest peak Mount Everest on 29 May 1953.
Since 2004 it has been awarded along with the other winners of the National Sports Award
It is given to a person for exemplary achievement in the field of adventure sports.
It is given in four categories of adventure in Land, Sea, or Air, and for lifetime achievements.
The awardees are given a statuette, a certificate, a ceremonial dress, and a cash prize.
First recipients in 1994- 22 sportspeople.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar

It was instituted in 2009.
Given to individuals or institutions for their contribution in one of the four categories (1) Encouragement to sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (2) Identification and nurturing of young sports talent (3) Employment of sportspersons and contributing to sports welfare (4) Development of Sports.
The awards consist of a certificate and a trophy in each of the above four categories. There is no cash award.

Also Read: Winners of the 2024 National Sports Award