The Sports Ministry of India recently announced the commencement of applications for this year’s National Sports Awards. Athletes, coaches, and sports organizations have until October 28, 2025, to submit their nominations for these esteemed honors.
These prestigious awards are annually bestowed by the President of India to celebrate exceptional achievements and dedication in the realm of sports. While the submission deadline is set, the official date for the grand ceremony, traditionally held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, is yet to be announced.
A critical aspect of the eligibility criteria remains the same: individuals previously penalized for doping violations will only be considered if their period of suspension has concluded. Any achievements during such ban periods will not be taken into account. Furthermore, sportspersons currently under investigation for any disciplinary or doping-related issues will not be eligible.
A dedicated Screening Committee, comprising senior officials from the Sports Ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), will meticulously review all submitted applications. Only those applications that meet the stringent eligibility criteria and are free from vigilance, disciplinary, and doping concerns will proceed to the final Selection Committee.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award stands as the highest sporting honor in India, recognizing spectacular and consistently outstanding performances over a four-year period. This prestigious award comes with a cash prize of ₹25 lakh, along with a medallion and a certificate of honor.
Following closely in prestige are the Arjuna Awards, which acknowledge excellent performance over the same four-year duration. Winners of the Arjuna Award receive a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. For both awards, performances in major international tournaments like the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups, and World Championships between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2024, will be considered.
Additionally, the Dronacharya Award is presented to coaches who have successfully guided athletes to medal-winning performances at significant international sporting events, while a Lifetime category of the Arjuna Award recognizes enduring contributions to sports development.
All eligible sportspersons, coaches, and entities are encouraged to apply online through the official portal. The deadline for submitting applications is strictly 11:59 p.m. on October 28, 2025.
In the previous year, notable awardees included double Olympic-medalist Manu Bhaker, chess sensation D. Gukesh, and hockey star Harmanpreet Singh, who were among the four recipients of the Khel Ratna. The Sports Ministry also recognized an unprecedented 17 para-athletes with Arjuna Awards, celebrating their remarkable success at the Paris Paralympics.