Sports & Awards
General Awareness & Current Affairs – Madhya Pradesh PSC
Purpose of these notes – Quickly acquaint you with the most important sports awards (national & international), their eligibility, key facts, and a typical exam‑style question.
1. Simple Explanation
| Term | What it is | Who gives it? | When? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | India’s highest sporting honour – “Sports Ratna” | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Annually (usually January–February) |
| Arjuna Award | Award for outstanding athletes in any sport | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Annually (January–February) |
| Dronacharya Award | Award for outstanding coaches | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Annually (January–February) |
| Bharat Ratna (Sporting) | Highest civilian award – sometimes given to athletes | President of India | As decided by the President |
| International Awards | e.g., Olympic Gold Medal, World Cup Winner, ICC Cricketer of the Year | International bodies (IOC, FIFA, ICC etc.) | As per competition dates |
Quick rule of thumb – Every Indian sportsperson who excels nationally or internationally can be considered for the Arjuna Award; the best of the best may be awarded the Khel Ratna. Coaches are honoured by the Dronacharya Award.
2. Key Points
| Category | Award | Eligibility & Criteria | Notable Recipients (India) | Year of Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National – Athlete | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | • Outstanding performance in the last 4 years • Minimum 3 international medals (incl. Olympic/World/Asian Games) |
P.T. Usha (1983), Abhinav Bindra (2010), PV Sindhu (2016) | 1991 |
| Arjuna Award | • Consistent performance • Minimum 3 international medals • Conduct & discipline |
Saina Nehwal (2010), MS Dhoni (2009) | 1961 | |
| National – Coach | Dronacharya Award | • Coaching leading to international success • Minimum 3 medals |
G. V. Vasireddy (2008), M. V. Vivek (2015) | 1985 |
| Civilian – Sport | Bharat Ratna (Sporting) | • Exceptional service to sport & country | Dilip Kumar (1980, acting), Sachin Tendulkar (2020) | 1954 |
| International | Olympic Gold Medal | • Highest honour at Olympics (various sports) | Abhinav Bindra (2008), Saina Nehwal (2016) | 1896 |
| World Cup Winner (ICC Cricket) | • International cricket championship | India (1983, 2011), Australia (series of years) | 1975 | |
| FIFA World Cup | • International football championship | Brazil (5 titles), Germany (4) | 1930 | |
| ICC Cricketer of the Year | • Best player of the year | Virat Kohli (2016, 2018), Rohit Sharma (2019) | 2005 |
Other Important Sports Awards (India)
| Award | Focus | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| Shiv Chhatrapati Award | Excellence in sports (Maharashtra) | Govt. of Maharashtra |
| Dronacharya Award – Junior | Coaching for under‑20 athletes | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |
| Khel Pad | Lifetime achievement in sports | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports |
| Mahatma Gandhi Khel Ratna (regional) | State‑level award | State Government |
Recent/Current Trends
| Trend | Example |
|---|---|
| Women’s sports recognition | PV Sindhu – Khel Ratna 2016; Mithali Raj – Arjuna 2010 |
| Inclusion of Para‑sports | M. M. Srivastava – Arjuna (2019) for para‑archery |
| Digital & E‑sports | N/A – no official award yet, but discussions underway |
3. Worked Example
Question (PSC‑style MCQ)
Which of the following awards is given to Indian coaches for their outstanding contribution to sports?
a) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
b) Arjuna Award
c) Dronacharya Award
d) Bharat Ratna
Solution:
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – for athletes.
- Arjuna Award – for athletes.
- Dronacharya Award – specifically for coaches.
- Bharat Ratna – civilian, not sport‑specific.
Answer: c) Dronacharya Award
Explanation – The Dronacharya Award evaluates a coach’s ability to produce athletes who win international medals. It is a separate category from athlete awards.
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Take‑away |
|---|---|
| Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | Highest athlete honour – 4‑year performance window |
| Arjuna Award | General athlete award – 3+ international medals |
| Dronacharya Award | Coach award – 3+ medals from coached athletes |
| **Bharat Rat |