Sports & Awards – Study Notes for Competitive Exams
(IIT‑JEE, UPSC, JEE‑Main, JEE‑Advanced, etc.)
These notes give a rigorous, exam‑oriented view of the major sporting awards (Indian & International), ranking systems, and current‑affairs highlights. They are written in a clean Markdown format so you can paste them into any note‑taking app.
1. Quick Reference Table
| Award | Year Instituted | Awarding Body | Eligibility | Key Point | Typical Medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khelo India Sports Award | 2018 | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Indian athletes | Highest honour for youth sports | Gold, Silver, Bronze |
| Major Dhyan Chand Award | 2002 | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Lifetime contribution | “Living legend” | Gold |
| Arjuna Award | 1961 | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Current athletes | Best performance in 4 yrs | Gold |
| Dronacharya Award | 1985 | Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports | Coaches | Outstanding coaching | Gold |
| Padma Awards (Sports category) | 1954 | President of India | All citizens | Civilian honour | Padma Shri/Padma Bhushan |
| Olympic Games | 1896 | IOC | National teams | Gold‑Silver‑Bronze | 3‑2‑1 points |
| FIFA World Cup | 1930 | FIFA | National teams | Gold‑Silver‑Bronze | 5‑3‑1 points |
| ICC Cricket World Cup | 1975 | ICC | National teams | Gold‑Silver‑Bronze | 10‑6‑4 points |
| Commonwealth Games | 1930 | Commonwealth Games Federation | Commonwealth nations | Gold‑Silver‑Bronze | 3‑2‑1 points |
| Asian Games | 1951 | Olympic Council of Asia | Asian nations | Gold‑Silver‑Bronze | 3‑2‑1 points |
Quick mnemonic:
K – Khelo India, M – Major Dhyan Chand, A – Arjuna, D – Dronacharya, P – Padma, O – Olympic, F – FIFA, I – ICC, C – Commonwealth, A – Asian.
2. Indian Sports Awards – Detailed
2.1 Khelo India Sports Award
- Purpose: Encourage grassroots talent.
- Structure: 3 tiers – Gold, Silver, Bronze.
- Eligibility: Indian athletes who have won medals in international competitions (Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, etc.) or have consistently performed in national championships.
- Awarding Day: 29 Aug (Kargil Vijay Diwas).
2.2 Major Dhyan Chand Award
- Purpose: Lifetime contribution to sports (athlete or coach).
- Eligibility: Former athletes/ coaches who have “put India on the map” and have been awarded at least one of the national sports awards.
- Awarding Day: 29 Aug.
2.3 Arjuna Award
- Purpose: Recognise “