Karnataka Police Constable – General Awareness
Topic: Sports & Awards
Purpose of these notes – Give you a quick, clear, and exam‑ready understanding of the major sports awards in India and Karnataka, with an example question and a revision checklist.
1. Simple Explanation
| Term | What it Means | When/Why It Exists |
|---|---|---|
| Arjuna Award | Highest sporting honour of India (for athletes). | Instituted 1961 to recognise outstanding performance in national & international competitions. |
| Khel Ratna (Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) | Highest sporting award for a single year. | Created 1991 (renamed 2009) to recognise the most excellent athlete of the year. |
| Dhyan Chand Award | Lifetime achievement award for sportspersons & coaches. | Introduced 2002 to honour long‑term contribution. |
| Dronacharya Award | Awarded to coaches for excellence in training athletes. | Started 1985. |
| Karnataka State Sports Award | State‑level award for athletes and coaches. | Annually given by Karnataka’s Department of Sports & Youth Services. |
| Karnataka State Kalaripayattu Award | Honour for excellence in the traditional martial art. | Awarded by the state government. |
| Karnatka Sports Excellence Award (KSEA) | Recognises achievements in various sports at the state level. | Given by the Karnataka Sports Council. |
Key Idea:
National awards recognise athletes/coaches at the country level, while state awards focus on local talent and development.
2. Key Points (All Important Facts to Remember)
| Category | Award | Established | Eligibility | Notable Recipients (India) | Karnataka Specifics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National | Arjuna Award | 1961 | Indian athletes, 5‑year record in international events | Milkha Singh, PV Sindhu, Mahendra Singh Dhoni | State winners often listed in the Karnataka Sports Award ceremony |
| Khel Ratna | 1991 (renamed 2009) | Exceptional performance in a single year | Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2007), Mithali Raj (2010) | Karnataka athletes who win Khel Ratna are highlighted in state news | |
| Dhyan Chand Award | 2002 | Lifetime contribution to sports | Leander Paes (2012), Sushil Kumar (2017) | Karnataka’s own sports legends occasionally honoured | |
| Dronacharya Award | 1985 | Outstanding coaches, 5‑year record of success | Nasser Hussain (coach of Indian women’s hockey), Sushil Kumar (coach) | Coaches from Karnataka clubs are honoured in state award lists | |
| State | Karnataka State Sports Award | 2004 | Athletes & coaches who have represented Karnataka/India | 2023: 25 recipients across 10 sports | Award ceremony usually held in Bengaluru; winners receive a cash prize & certificate |
| Karnataka State Kalaripayattu Award | 2010 | Excellence in Kalaripayattu | 2022: 3 recipients | Recognises traditional martial arts masters | |
| Karnataka Sports Excellence Award (KSEA) | 2018 | Athletes in Olympic & Commonwealth sports | 2024: 18 recipients | Publicised on the Karnataka Sports Council website |
Other Important Points
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award Ceremony | Held annually in Bengaluru (Karnataka Sports Award) or in New Delhi (National awards). |
| Selection Committee | National awards decided by a committee of former athletes, sports administrators. State awards decided by the State Sports Council and Department of Sports & Youth Services. |
| Eligibility Criteria | 5‑year record of performance, no disqualifications, representation at national/international level. |
| Recent Updates (2023‑24) | • Arjuna Award criteria broadened to include para‑sport athletes. • Khel Ratna now includes “Best Female Athlete” separately. • Karnataka Sports Award 2024 announced on 15 Jan 2024. |
3. Worked Example
Sample Question (for Kavach exam)
*“Which award is given to a retired athlete for lifetime contribution to Indian sports?”