NiklasPqy606 at 11:02, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T11:02:59Z

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{{short description|Indian sports award}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Arjuna Award
| image = Mohammed Shami Arjuna Award.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = [[Mohammed Shami]] receiving the Arjuna Award in 2024
| subheader = Civilian award for outstanding contributions to Sports (Individual/Team)
| awarded_for = Sports honour in [[India]]
| sponsor = [[Government of India]]
| firstawarded = 1961
| final_award = 2024
| reward = [[Indian rupee|₹]]15,00,000<ref>{{cite news |title=A news website NDTV | newspaper=Ndtvsports.com | url=https://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/national-sports-awards-2024-how-much-prize-money-do-khel-ratna-arjuna-awardees-get-4828020#:~:text=The%20awardees%20of%20the%20Arjuna,Rs%205%20lakhs%20in%202020.}}</ref>
| former name =
| website =
| award1_type = Total awarded
| award1_winner = 967 individuals + 1 team award
| previous =
| higher = Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
| next = [[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]]
}}
{{Bar graph
| title = Arjuna award recipients<ref name="ArjunaAward" />
| float = right
| bar_width = 14.5
| width_units = em
| data_max = 178
| label_type = Year
| data_type = Number of recipients
| label1 = 1961–1969
| data1 = 95
| comment1 =+ 1 team award
| label2 = 1970–1979
| data2 = 136
| label3 = 1980–1989
| data3 = 147
| label4 = 1990–1999
| data4 = 147
| label5 = 2000–2009
| data5 = 151
| label6 = 2010–2019
| data6 = 178
| label7 = 2020–2029
| data7 = 119
}}

The '''Arjuna Award''', officially known as '''Arjuna Awards given for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games''',<ref name ="Scheme" /> is the second-highest sporting honour of [[India]], the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand [[Khel Ratna Award]]. The award is named after [[Arjuna]], one of the characters of the [[Sanskrit]] [[Indian epic poetry|epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'' of [[History of India|ancient India]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691139968/the-bhagavad-gita|title=The Bhagavad Gita|date=26 October 2014|isbn=978-0-691-13996-8|language=en|last1=Davis|first1=Richard H.}}</ref> In [[Hinduism]], he has been seen as a symbol of hard work, dedication and concentration.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Sports Ministry unveils new look Sports Awards|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=52143|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=26 August 2009|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128112951/https://archive.pib.gov.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=52143|url-status=live}}</ref> It is awarded annually by the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]. Before the introduction of the [[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] in 1991–1992, the Arjuna award was the highest sporting honour of India.<ref name="EverestNews" /><ref>{{cite press release|title=Vishwanathan Anand gets Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1992-MIN-OF-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-&-SPORTS/PDF/YTH-1992-08-18_084.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=18 August 1992|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229185750/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1992-MIN-OF-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-%26-SPORTS/PDF/YTH-1992-08-18_084.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The nominations for the award are received from all government-recognised national sports federations, the [[Indian Olympic Association]], the [[Sports Authority of India]] (SAI), the Sports Promotion and Control Boards, the state and the union territory governments and the Major Dhyan Chandra Khel Ratna, Arjuna, [[Dhyan Chand Award|Dhyan Chand]] and [[Dronacharya Award|Dronacharya]] awardees of the previous years. The recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured for their "good performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at the international level and for having shown "qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline." {{As of|2020}}, the award comprises "a [[bronze]] [[statuette]] of Arjuna, certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of {{INRConvert|15|l}}."{{efn|name=a}}

Instituted in 1961 to honour the outstanding sportspersons of the country,<ref>{{cite web|title=India in Sports: Some Fabulous Achievements|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/ffeb2000/f100220001.html|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=11 February 2017|author=Bhardwaj, D. K.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813230542/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/ffeb2000/f100220001.html|archive-date=13 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> the award over the years has undergone a number of expansions, reviews and rationalizations. The award was expanded to include all the recognised sporting disciplines in 1977, introduced indigenous games and physically handicapped categories in 1995 and introduced a lifetime contribution category in 1995 leading to creation of a separate [[Dhyan Chand Award]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Cash awards for Arjuna winners|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1977-JAN-DEC-AWARDS/PDF/DEF-1977-10-12_084.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=12 October 1977|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229185750/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1977-JAN-DEC-AWARDS/PDF/DEF-1977-10-12_084.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Arjuna Awards further expanded|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1995-JAN-DEC-MO-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-&-SPORTS-NO-9/PDF/YTH-1995-05-24_023.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=24 May 1995|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229185750/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1995-JAN-DEC-MO-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-%26-SPORTS-NO-9/PDF/YTH-1995-05-24_023.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The latest revision in 2018 stipulates that the award is given only to the disciplines included in the events like [[Olympic Games]], [[Paralympic Games]], [[Asian Games]], [[Commonwealth Games]], [[World championship|World Championship]] and [[World cup competition|World Cup]] along with [[cricket]], indigenous games, and [[Disabled sports|Parasports]]. It also recommends giving only fifteen awards in a year, relaxing in case of excellent performance in major [[Multi-sport event|multi-sport events]], team sports, across gender and giving away of at least one award in the physically challenged category.<ref name="Scheme"/>

== History ==
Since the year 2001, the award is given only in disciplines falling under the following categories:
* Olympic Games / Asian Games / Commonwealth Games / World Cup / World Championship Disciplines and Cricket
* Indigenous Games
* Sports for the Physically Challenged


==Lists of recipients==
===By year===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (1961–1969)|Arjuna Award recipients (1961–1969)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (1970–1979)|Arjuna Award recipients (1970–1979)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (1980–1989)|Arjuna Award recipients (1980–1989)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (1990–1999)|Arjuna Award recipients (1990–1999)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (2000–2009)|Arjuna Award recipients (2000–2009)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (2010–2019)|Arjuna Award recipients (2010–2019)]]
* [[List of Arjuna Award recipients (2020–2029)|Arjuna Award recipients (2020–2029)]]
}}
===By sport===
====Olympic sports====
{{main|List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#ArcheryAA|Archery]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in athletics#AA|Athletics]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in badminton#AA|Badminton]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#BasketballAA|Basketball]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in boxing#AA|Boxing]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#CyclingAA|Cycling]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#EquestrianAA|Equestrian]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#FencingAA|Fencing]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#FootballAA|Football]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#GolfAA|Golf]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#GymnasticsAA|Gymnastics]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in hockey#AA|Hockey]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#JudoAA|Judo]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#Lawn TennisAA|Lawn Tennis]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#RowingAA|Rowing]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in shooting#AA|Shooting]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#SwimmingAA|Swimming]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#Table TennisAA|Table Tennis]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#VolleyballAA|Volleyball]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#WeightliftingAA|Weightlifting]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in Olympic sports#Winter SportsAA|Winter Sports]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in wrestling#AA|Wrestling]]
}}

====Non Olympic sports====
{{main|List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Adventure SportsAA|Adventure Sports]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Ball BadmintonAA|Ball Badminton]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Billiards & SnookerAA|Billiards & Snooker]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#BodybuildingAA|Bodybuilding]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#CarromAA|Carrom]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#ChessAA|Chess]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in cricket#AA|Cricket]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#KabaddiAA|Kabaddi]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Kho KhoAA|Kho Kho]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Motor SportsAA|Motor Sports]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#MountaineeringAA|Mountaineering]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#PoloAA|Polo]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#PowerliftingAA|Powerlifting]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#Roller SkatingAA|Roller Skating]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#SquashAA|Squash]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#WushuAA|Wushu]]
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in non-Olympic sports#YachtingAA|Yachting]]
}}
====Parasports====
{{main|List of National Sports Award recipients in parasports}}
* [[List of National Sports Award recipients in parasports#AA|Parasports]]

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist|refs=
{{efn|name=a|The cash prize was introduced in the year 1977{{ndash}}1978 as a scholarship of {{INRConvert|200}} a month for 2 years.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Two years Scholarship for winners|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1978-JULY-DEC-MINISTRY-OF-EDUCATION-SOCIAL-WELFARE-&-CULTURE/PDF/EDU-1978-10-27_165.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=27 October 1978|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143057/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1978-JULY-DEC-MINISTRY-OF-EDUCATION-SOCIAL-WELFARE-%26-CULTURE/PDF/EDU-1978-10-27_165.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It was revised to one time cash prize of {{INRConvert|5|k}} in 1986,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Arjuna Award for 1986 to 13 Sports persons|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1988-JAN-JUNE-HUMAN-RESOURCE-DEVIL-VOL-I/PDF/HRD-1988-01-12_014.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=12 January 1988|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143057/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1988-JAN-JUNE-HUMAN-RESOURCE-DEVIL-VOL-I/PDF/HRD-1988-01-12_014.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> to {{INRConvert|20|k}} in 1987,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Value of cash prize enhanced|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/RASHTRAPATI%20BHAWAN/1989-JAN-DEC-PRESIDENT-SECTT/PDF/RPB-1989-05-30_030.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=30 May 1989|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143057/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/RASHTRAPATI%20BHAWAN/1989-JAN-DEC-PRESIDENT-SECTT/PDF/RPB-1989-05-30_030.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> to {{INRConvert|50|k}} in 1993,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Arjuna awards, Dronachrya awards for 1998 Presented|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1993-JAN-DEC-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-&-SPORTS/PDF/YTH-1993-07-22_045.pdf|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=22 July 1993|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143057/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/EDUCATION/1993-JAN-DEC-YOUTH-AFFAIRS-%26-SPORTS/PDF/YTH-1993-07-22_045.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> to {{INRConvert|1.5|l}} in 1998,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Value of cash prize enhanced|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/releases98/lyr99/l0999/r010999.html#8|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=1 September 1998|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143138/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/releases98/lyr99/l0999/r010999.html#8|url-status=live}}</ref> to {{INRConvert|3|l}} in 2001,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Arjuna Awards scheme Revised|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/releases98/lyr2002/rapr2002/03042002/r0304200215.html|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=3 April 2002|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143222/https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/releases98/lyr2002/rapr2002/03042002/r0304200215.html|url-status=live}}</ref> to {{INRConvert|5|l}} in 2009,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Several initiatives undertaken for transformation of sports|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=56322|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=22 September 2020|date=22 December 2009|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001163838/http://pibarchive.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=56322|url-status=live}}</ref> and to {{INRConvert|15|l}} in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Enhancement of cash amount of Sports Awards 2020|url=http://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Enhancement%20of%20cash%20amount%20of%20Sports%20Awards%202020.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=22 September 2020|date=27 August 2020|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143104/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Enhancement%20of%20cash%20amount%20of%20Sports%20Awards%202020.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ArjunaAward">{{cite web|title=List of Arjuna Awardees (1961-2018)|url=https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=12 September 2020|df=dmy-all|archive-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718084523/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/LIST%20OF%20ARJUNA%20AWARDEES.docx%2061%20-%2017_0_0.pdf|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=National Sports Awards-2019|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1582410|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=13 September 2020|df=dmy-all|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229190956/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1582410|url-status=live}}
*{{cite web|title=National Sports Awards 2020|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1647633|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=13 September 2020|df=dmy-all|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143213/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1647633|url-status=live}}
*{{cite press release|title=National Sports Awards 2021 announced|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1769041|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=23 November 2022|date=2 November 2021}}
*{{cite press release|title=Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announces National Sports Awards 2022|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1875896|publisher=Press Information Bureau, India|access-date=23 November 2022|date=14 November 2022}}</ref>

<ref name="Scheme">{{cite web|title=Revised Scheme of Arjuna Award|url=https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Revised%20Scheme%20of%20Arjuna%20Award%20%28amended%20as%20on%207.9.2018%29_0.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India)|access-date=22 September 2020|date=7 September 2018|df=dmy-all|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229143100/https://yas.nic.in/sites/default/files/Revised%20Scheme%20of%20Arjuna%20Award%20%28amended%20as%20on%207.9.2018%29_0.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="EverestNews">{{cite news |last1=Chhetri |first1=Vivek |title=Team spirit at its peak for Arjuna |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/team-spirit-at-its-peak-for-arjuna/cid/1523047 |access-date=22 September 2020 |work=Telegraph India |date=30 May 2015 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001205604/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/team-spirit-at-its-peak-for-arjuna/cid/1523047 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Arjuna Award}}

*{{Official website|https://yas.nic.in/sports/sports-awards-0}}

{{Arjuna Award}}
{{National Sports Awards}}

[[Category:Indian sports trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award| ]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1961]]
[[Category:Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]

Arjuna Award - Revision history

NiklasPqy606 at 11:02, 4 March 2026