National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. It comprises the following awards –
1) Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna:
- It is the highest sporting honour of India.
- The recipient(s) is/are honoured for their outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years at international level.
- It was instituted in 1991–92.
- The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.
2) Dronacharya Awards:
- It was instituted in 1985 to honour eminent Coaches.
3) Arjuna awards:
- It was instituted in 1961.
- To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not only good performance over the previous four years at the International level but also should have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
4) Dhyan Chand Award:
- It was instituted in 2002.
- It is an award for life-time achievements in sports.
5) Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award:
- It is the highest national recognition for outstanding achievements in the field of adventure on land, sea and air.
6) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy:
- It was instituted in 1956-57 to honour the top overall performing university in the Inter-University Tournaments.
7) Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar:
- It was instituted from 2009 to recognizing the contribution made to sports development by entities other than sportspersons and coaches.
- The award has 4 categories: (1) Community sports development, (2) Promotion of sports academies of excellence, (3) Support to elite sportspersons and (4) employment to sportspersons.
