Consider the following pairs with regard to sports awards:
- 1.Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award — For the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over period of last four years
- 2.Arjuna Award — For the lifetime achievement by a sportsperson
- 3.Dronacharya Award — To honour eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams
- 4.Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar — To recognize the contribution made by sportspersons even after their retirement
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Only two
Only pairs 1 and 3 are correct. The Arjuna Award rewards good performance over the previous four years, not lifetime achievement, and the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar goes to corporate entities, sports bodies and NGOs, not to retired sportspersons.
- ✓ 1. The Khel Ratna, the highest sports honour, rewards a sportsperson whose performance has been spectacular and among the very best across the four years before the award.
- ✗ 2. The Arjuna Award rewards good performance across the previous four years, along with leadership, sportsmanship and discipline. Lifetime achievement is honoured by the Dhyan Chand Award.
- ✓ 3. The Dronacharya Award honours coaches whose consistent and meritorious work has helped their trainees perform well at international events.
- ✗ 4. The Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is given to corporate entities, sports control boards and NGOs (including sports bodies) that have played a visible role in promoting sports. Honouring sportspersons for what they do after retirement belongs to the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement.
Remember · Khel Ratna and Arjuna: performance over the previous four years. Dronacharya: coaches. Dhyan Chand Award: lifetime achievement. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar: corporates, sports bodies and NGOs.
Sources
- PIB (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports): National Sports Awards 2021 ↗ “is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of previous four years. … is given for good performance over a period of previous four years and showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. … is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events. … is given to corporate entities (both in private and public sector), sports control boards, NGOs including sports bodies at theState and National level who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2023, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·