Arjuna Award is conferred for achievements in the field of

Key Points

• The Arjuna Award is one of the most prestigious awards given for excellence in sports in India.
• It was established in 1961 by the Government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in national sports.
• The award carries a cash prize, a bronze statue of Arjuna, and a scroll.
• It is given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• The recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry, which evaluates the performance of the athletes over the previous four years.

Additional Information

• The Arjuna Award was initially presented to a large number of sportspersons, but the criteria have since been made more stringent to maintain its prestige.
• Recipients of the Arjuna Award are also considered for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, which is the highest sporting honor in India.
• The award aims to motivate athletes to strive for excellence and bring laurels to the country.
• Among the various sports for which the award has been given include cricket, badminton, hockey, athletics, and many more.
• In recent years, the scope of the award has been expanded to include sports for physically challenged athletes as well.