National Sports Awards

• National Sports Awards is the annual reward, recognition and honour given to the athletes in India.

• There are six sports awards are given under the National Sports Awards. These are: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, Dhyan Chand Award and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar.

• Awards are presented by the President of India at the Presidential Palace.

• Awards are usually given on 29th August every year.

• Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the highest sporting honour in India. It was instituted in the year 1991–1992. It is given to sportspersons for "most outstanding performance by a sportsperson" over the period of last four years. The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand.

• Arjuna Award was instituted in the year 1961. It is given to sportspersons for "consistent outstanding performance" over the period of last four years. Before the introduction of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 1991–1992, the Arjuna award was the highest sporting honour of India.

• Dronacharya Award instituted in the year 1985, it is given to eminent coaches for "producing medal winners at prestigious international events". The first recipients of the award were Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat (Wrestling), Om Prakash Bhardwaj (Boxing), and O. M. Nambiar (Athletics).

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy is awarded to the "overall top performing University in sports and promoting competitive sports in University" over the preceding year. It was first instituted in the year 1956–1957. Bombay University was the first winner of this trophy.

• Dhyan Chand Award was instituted in the year 2002. It is given to individuals for "lifetime contribution to sports development". The first recipients of the award were Shahuraj Birajdar (Boxing), Ashok Diwan (Hockey), and Aparna Ghosh (Basketball).

• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar was instituted in the year 2009. It is given to organizations (both private and public) and individuals for "playing a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development" over the period of last three years.

• Since 2004, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is also given alongside the other sports awards.