President Droupadi Murmu presents Arjuna Award to cricketer Mohammed Shami in the course of the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 on the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, on Jan. 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Sports Ministry on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) started the method of inviting applications for this yr’s National Sports Awards with October 28 being the final date of submission.
The awards are given yearly by the President of India to recognise and reward excellence in sports activities however the date of the ceremony, which is held on the Rashtrapati Bhawan, shouldn’t be but out.
Once once more, sportspersons penalised for doping violations would solely be eligible if their ban interval is over.
“The achievements during the said suspension/ punishment would not be considered. However a sportsperson against whom enquiry is pending/ongoing will not be considered,” the Ministry acknowledged within the notified eligibility standards.
A Screening Committee consisting of Joint Secretary (Sports), Secretary, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Director (Sports)/Deputy Secretary (Sports) Department of Sports and Executive Director (TEAMS)/Director (TEAMS), SAI will scrutinise the applications.
“Applications of the sportspersons and reports of NSFs (national Sports federations (NSFs) and SAI will be placed before the screening committee. Valid applications, which are clear from vigilance, disciplinary and doping angles, will be placed before the Selection Committee as per the prescribed eligibility criteria.” Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is the very best honour among the many ones given and comes with a money prize of ₹25 lakh, a medallion and a certificates of honour.
Arjuna awards type the following rung and fetches the winner a money prize of ₹15 lakh.
To be eligible, a sportsperson should show “spectacular and most outstanding performance over a period of four years preceding the year in which the award is to be given.
“Olympic/ Paralympics/ Asian/ Commonwealth Games/ Championships/World Cup/World Championship and equal recognised worldwide tournaments for the interval from January 1, 2021 and upto December 31, 2024 shall be considered,” the Ministry said.
Arjuna Award (Lifetime) is given for life time contribution to sports development, while the Dronacharya Award is given to the coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports.
“Applications from the eligible sportspersons, coaches and entities are invited in on-line mode by way of a devoted Portal. The candidates eligible in accordance with the award pointers have to self-apply at www.dbtyas-sports.gov.in,” the Sports Ministry stated in its notification.
“The applications of the eligible sportspersons/ coaches/ entities for the awards have to be submitted on the on-line portal by 11:59 p.m. on twenty eighth October, 2025,” it added.
Last year, double Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker, chess world champion D. Gukesh and hockey ace Harmanpreet Singh were among four winners of the Khel Ratna award.
The Sports Ministry also named an unprecedented 17 para-athletes in the list of 32 Arjuna awardees to honour their resounding success at the Paris Paralympics in the same year.
Published – September 30, 2025 02:12 pm IST
