Highest National Recognition for Outstanding Performance in Sports: Arjuna Award

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India give this prestigious Arjuna Awards to outstanding sports personalities to recognize their achievements and contributions in the National Sports. It was instituted in 1961 and the award carries a cash prize worth rupees five lakhs, a bronze statue of Arjuna and a scroll.

The scope of the award has been expanded over years. A large number of sports people who belonged the pre – Arjuna Award period were also included in the list. Moreover, the number of award disciplines was increased and it included indigenous games and the physically handicapped category. The guidelines have been revised for Arjuna Award. As per the revised instructions, a person is eligible for the award if the sportsperson not only have had good performance consistently for the past four years at the international level but should have displayed leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline too.

By: Bhavna Sharma

Content: en.wikipedia.org