Khel Ratna Award Controversy

Khel Ratna Award Controversy

Sub: Schemes

Sec: Awards

Why in News

• Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist in shooting, was reportedly excluded from the list of nominees for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour. This exclusion sparked controversy, leading to clarifications from both Bhaker and the Sports Ministry.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award:

• Named After: Major Dhyan Chand (1905–1979), a legendary Indian field hockey player.
• Established: 1991–1992, originally called Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, renamed in 2021.
• It is India’s highest sporting award conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

Eligibility:

• Awarded to sportspersons with outstanding performance at international competitions (Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cups, etc.) over the last four years.
• Achievements from Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games are also considered during the respective years.
• Athletes under doping charges or ongoing investigations are ineligible.

General Conditions:

• No individual can receive the award more than once.
• Only one award is given per year, with exceptions in extraordinary cases.
• Posthumous awards can be given if necessary.
• The Government can cancel or annul the award for reasons such as doping violations.

Benefits:

• Cash Prize: ₹25,00,000 (exempt from income and wealth tax).
• Certificate of Honor: Awarded to the sportsperson.
• Medal: Conferred to the recipient.