National Sports Awards 2025: 17 Athletes Receive Arjuna Awards
The Indian government announced the National Sports Awards for 2025, with 17 sportspersons selected for the prestigious Arjuna Awards.
Source: The Hindu SportThe Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the National Sports Awards for the year 2025. A total of 17 sportspersons have been named for the Arjuna Awards, recognizing their outstanding achievements in various sports. Notable recipients include chess player Divya Deshmukh, badminton player Gayatri Gopichand, and boxer Narender. This year marks a significant change as no sportsperson has been recommended for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, which is India's highest sporting honour. Additionally, the number of Arjuna Awardees, at 17, is the lowest since 2017, when the same number of athletes received the award. The National Sports Awards aim to acknowledge and reward excellence in sports, motivating athletes to achieve higher levels of performance on national and international platforms.
This news is important for competitive exams under the 'Awards and Honours' and 'Sports' sections of General Awareness. Aspirants should know the names of prominent awardees, especially those from less common sports, and understand the significance of each award. Questions often focus on the highest award (Khel Ratna), the number of recipients, and specific individuals recognized for their achievements in a given year. This topic links to current affairs and static GK about India's sports awards system.
- 17 sportspersons were named for the Arjuna Awards in 2025.
- Divya Deshmukh (Chess), Gayatri Gopichand (Badminton), and Narender (Boxing) are among the Arjuna Awardees.
- No sportsperson was considered for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2025.
- The 17 Arjuna Awardees represent the lowest number since 2017, which also had 17 recipients.
- The National Sports Awards are announced annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- The Arjuna Award recognizes outstanding performance over the previous four years.
The Arjuna Award is India's second-highest sporting honour, awarded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It recognizes outstanding performance by sportspersons over the preceding four years at the international level. Instituted in 1961, the award includes a bronze statue of Arjuna, a scroll, and a cash prize. It aims to motivate athletes to achieve higher levels of excellence in their respective sports.
Formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, it is India's highest sporting honour. Renamed in 2021 after hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, it is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports over a period of four years. The award includes a medal, a certificate, and a substantial cash prize.
This is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for youth affairs and sports in the country. It aims to promote youth development, physical education, and sports. The Ministry formulates policies, implements schemes, and provides financial assistance for various sports activities and infrastructure development across India. It is also responsible for announcing and conferring the National Sports Awards.
UPSC and SSC exams frequently ask about the names of awardees, the year of institution of various sports awards, and the highest sports honour in India. Be prepared for questions on specific sports associated with prominent award winners.
Remember 'ADK' for the top three awards: Arjuna, Dronacharya, Khel Ratna (Major Dhyan Chand). Arjuna for players, Dronacharya for coaches, Khel Ratna for top performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the National Sports Awards in India?
The National Sports Awards are a set of prestigious awards given by the Government of India to recognize and honour excellence in sports. These include the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Dhyan Chand Award, and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar. They aim to encourage sportsmanship and high performance.
Who is eligible for the Arjuna Award?
The Arjuna Award is given to sportspersons who have consistently performed well for the previous four years at the international level and have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline. The selection committee, appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, evaluates nominations from various sports federations.
Why was no Khel Ratna awarded in 2025?
The decision not to award the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2025 was made by the selection committee. While the specific reasons are not publicly detailed, it implies that the committee did not find any sportsperson whose performance met the exceptionally high criteria for India's top sporting honour during the evaluation period.