Named after the hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an Indian legendary field hockey player, "Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" (erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award) is the highest sporting honour of India. Instituted in 1991–1992, the award is conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which award is to be given shall be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for excellence in Sports & Games at international level i.e. Olympic/Asian/ Commonwealth/World Games/Championships/World Cup and equivalent recognized international tournaments. As of 2022, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25,00,000.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the award is to recognize the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which the award is to be given. During the years when Olympic Games, Commonwealth and Asian Games are held, achievements of the sportspersons upto conclusion of these Games will also be considered.
(i) A cash amount of ₹25,00,000 exempt from Income Tax and Wealth Tax in the year in which it is disbursed. The Award will be presented to the winners at the function for the presentation of the Award to be held at a place and on a date to be determined by the Government.
The spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which award is to be given shall be honored with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for excellence in Sports & Games at international level i.e. Olympic/Asian/ Commonwealth/World Games/Championships/World Cup and equivalent recognized international tournaments.
During the years when Olympic Games, Commonwealth and Asian Games are held, achievements of the sportspersons in these Games and other abovernentioned tournaments upto the conclusion of the Olympic Games/Commonwealth Games/Asian Games, as the case may be, will also be considered.
Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom enquiry is pending/ongoing for use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by National Dope Testing Laboratory or any other WADA accredited laboratory, will not be eligible for the Award.
General Conditions:
A person who is nominated for the Award shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of the scheme.
No Award will be made for a second time to the same person.
There will be only one award every year to be given to an individual sportsperson. This condition will be relaxed only in exceptional circumstances.
The Award will be presented to the winners at the function for the presentation of the Award to be held at a place and on a date to be determined by the Government of India.
The Award may be given posthumously if such an occasion arises.
In order to ensure due diligence in the selection of awardees, the Ministry will make necessary character verification prior to finalizing the names of the awardees. This may be done through the regional centres of SAI, if need be, by taking help of concerned police authorities
At the time of the presentation ceremony, the awards will be conferred upon the selected awardees, who are present. No person other than the awardees will collect the award and prize money at the presentation ceremony. The awardees who are not able to come to receive the award during the presentation ceremony may later receive the same from the Minister—in-Charge for Youth Affairs and Sports.
The Government of India may cancel, annul the Award to any recipient for specific reasons including doping and thereupon the recipient shall be required to surrender the plaque and the certificate of honour but it shall be competent for the Government of India to restore the Award once the cancellation and annulment has been withdrawn.
The decision of the Government of India in respect of matters covered by the scheme and of the interpretation of the provisions of the scheme shall be final and no appeal shall lie against them.
Canvassing in any form in respect of an entry will render that entry liable to disqualification.
Minister-in-charge for Youth Affairs & Sports will be competent authority for relaxation of any clause, provided there are sufficient reasons (to be recorded in writing) for doing so.
Eligibility of the Nominating Agency -
All recognized National Sports Federations (NSFs) recognized by the Government of India, Indian Olympic Association and State/UT Governments. They may nominate upto a maximum of two sportspersons in a particular discipline/sport in a particular year.
In case of cricket, for which no National Sports Federation has been recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, nominations from Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) will be invited.
In addition, nominations will also be invited by the Ministry from Sports Control/Promotion Boards of various Governments organizations such as the All India Police Sports Control Board, Army Sports Control Board, Railway Sports Promotion Board, Services Sports Control Board, Indian Navy Sports control Board, Air Force Sports Control Board, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board, Air India Sports Promotion Board, SAIL Sports Promotion Board etc. These agencies will be allowed to make nominations upto a maximum of two sportspersons.
For the NSFs de-recognized or under suspension, Sports Authority of India (SAI) will exercise the quota of nominations and make nominations upto a maximum of two eligible sportspersons for each sports discipline with the approval of Director General, SAL.
In case of receipt of more than two nominations from the concerned agency, only the first two nominations sent by the recommending agency will be considered.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awardees of the previous years can also nominate one eligible sportsperson each for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for the sports discipline for which they themselves were awarded Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna.
Notwithstanding the above. Government reserves the right to make upto 2 nominations of sportspersons/coaches in deserving cases where no such nominations have been received from the agencies mentioned under the Scheme.
The authorized signatory for sending nominations will be as follows: (i) Indian Olympic Association —President /Secretary General; (ii) National Sports Federations — President /Secretary General [In the case of Cricket, there is no federation recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Nominations for cricket will need to be sent by President/ Secretary General of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI)]; (iii) State/UT Governments/Sports Control/Promotion Boards — An officer of not less than the rank of Secretary of the organization after taking due approval of the competent authority.
Nominations forwarded by any officer dearer other than those mentioned will not be considered.
and apply for Online Schemes of the Department of Sports.
Step 2: The applicant will click on the ‘Registration’ tab to start the one-time registration process. Here the applicant will fill in the required personal details including verification of their mobile number through OTP.
(Registration Type, Organization Name, Individual Name, Address, State, City, District, Block, Village, Pin Code, Email, Mobile Number)
Step 3: After successful registration, the applicant will get the message that the login credentials have been sent to the registered email ID.
Step 4: The applicant will use the login credentials received on the registered email ID to login into the online portal. Please remember to refresh the captcha before clicking on the login button.
Step 5: After first-time login, the applicant will be required to update their other basic details. After filling in the details click on the ‘Update’ button and the profile will be successfully updated.
(Name of the Applicant, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Gender, DOB, Nationality, Address, email, Mobile Number)
Step 6: The applicant will click on the ‘Schemes’ tab and apply for the desired scheme.
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Note 1: Nominations for the award are invited in the month of January/February each year. The last date for the receipt of nominations will be 30th April or last working day of April.
Note 2: The nominations will be sent to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in the prescribed proforma giving the details past performance of the nominated sportspersons in. International competitions and details of the contribution made for promotion and development of sports.
Note 3: The nominating authorities are required to certify in the nomination form itself that the nominees are clear from vigilance/disciplinary angles and are not involved in acts of criminal and moral turpitude nature.
Note 4: In case of sportspersons employed with Central Government/State Governments/PSUs or in private organizations, nominating authorities should obtain a requisite report from the concerned employers before certifying that the sportsperson being nominated is clear from vigilance/disciplinary angle and is not involved in any act of criminal or moral turpitude nature. While seeking report from the employer, details of chargesheet/disciplinary action taken/pending, if any, should also be obtained. Copy of the report/certificate obtained from the employer of the sportspersons should be enclosed with the application of the sportspersons being nominated.
Note 5: Copies of the nominations received from organizations other than the National Sports Federations (NSFs) will be sent to the concerned NSF for verification of the details and the achievements and for checking if the nominated sportsperson has ever been warned/penalized for any unfair practice like age fraud/sexual harassment, doping etc. All details in this regard, if any, alongwith the verification report should be sent by the concerned NSF within a week of the receipt of letter from the Ministry.
Note 6: The applications for nomination should be addressed to Director (Sports)/Deputy Secretary (Sports)/Under Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports only and date of receipt in his/her office will be the date of receipt of nomination by the government.
Note 7: Received applications are to be duly stamped and recorded in a register. In addition all applications received within time will be duly acknowledged to the recommending authority.
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Criteria for giving Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna to Sportspersons -
80 % weightage will be given for the medals won in various International championships and sports events of the disciplines covered in Olympic Games (Summer, Winter and Paralympics), Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Points for winning medals will be given to each eligible sportsperson for his/her performance during the last 4 years and upto conclusion of Olympic Games, Commonwealth and Asian Games during those years when these Games are held as per marks given in the table below:
1. For World Championship/World Cup of different periodicities, proportionate marks will be given
2. Equivalence of any other sports discipline/tournament, not listed above, will be decided by the Selection Committee with reference to above-mentioned categories of sports tournaments and the points will be allotted accordingly.
3. For team events, marks will be computed taking into consideration strength of the team. If prescribed marks for an individual event are ‘A’, in the case of team event, the marks will be computed as follows:
(i) A team of 2 persons: 1.5 X ‘A’/number of persons in the team
(ii) A team of 3 or 4 persons: 2 X ‘A’/number of persons in the team
(iii) A team of 5 to 10 persons: 3 X ‘A’/number of persons in the team
(iv) A team of more than 10 persons: 5 X ‘A’/number of persons in the team
4. 80 marks will be given to the sportsperson getting maximum points as computed in the table above. Rest of the sportspersons will be given marks proportionately to the said sportsperson. For example, if a sportsperson 'A' has got highest points, say 85 points as per the table above and another sportsperson 'B' has got 80 points as per the table above, then 'A' will get 80 marks and 'B' will get ( 80 x 80/85 ) = 75.30 marks.
5. 20 % weightage will be given to the marks given by the Selection Committee for assessment of the eligible sportsperson keeping in view factors like profile and standard of the sports events in which he or she has won medals.
6. For cricket and indigenous games, not included in Olympic /: Asian Games / Commonwealth Games disciplines, the Selection Committee will take into consideration their individuals performances.
7. There will be only one award every year to be given to an individual sportsperson. This condition will be relaxed only in exceptional circumstances to be recorded in writing.
8. In a particular sports discipline, names of not more than 2 sportspersons (1 male and 1 female) with the highest marks as per the criteria brought out in the table above will be considered by the Selection Committee.
9. Sometimes, the Selection Committee may feel that as per the given criteria, a very deserving sportsperson in a team game may not get Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. In such a situation, it may recommend such name giving full justification in writing.
10. Selection Committee will recommend the final list of sportsperson(s) for Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna as per the marks obtained in terms of the criteria indicated above.
11. Selection Committee may not mechanically recommend Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna to the recipient of the highest marks across disciplines. But in a particular sports discipline, award will be recommended only for the recipient of the highest aggregate marks.
12. The recommendations of Selection Committee will be placed before the Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports for the final decision.
Has MoYAS Revised The Prize Money For The Awardees For Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Yes, the cash prize for the awardees for Dhyan Chand Award has been enhanced by MoYAS from ₹7,50,000 to ₹25,00,000.
Are Nominations/Applications For The Award Open Throughout The Year?
No, The nominations for the Award will be invited in the month of January/February each year. Last date for the receipt of nominations will be 30th April or last working day of April.
What Are The Disciplines In Which The Award Is Conferred?
The award is given only to the disciplines included in the events like Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championship and World Cup along with Cricket, Indigenous Games, and Parasports.
What Are WADA And NADA? What Is Their Role In This Award?
Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom enquiry is pending or going on for use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by the National Dope Testing Laboratory or any other WADA accredited laboratory, will not be eligible for the Award.
Can The Award Be Conferred Upon For A Second Time To The Same Person?
No Award will be made for a second time to the same person.
How Many Awards Are Given In A Particular Year?
Only one Award will be given in a particular year.
Can The Award Be Given Posthumously?
Yes, the award may be given posthumously if such an occasion arises.
How Is Due Diligence Ensured In The Selection Of Awardees?
In order to ensure due diligence in the selection of awardees, the Ministry will make necessary character verification prior to finalizing the names of the awardees. This may be done through the regional centres of SAI, if need be, by taking help of concerned police authorities.
Can A Person Other Than The Awardee Collect The Award And Prize Money At The Presentation Ceremony?
At the time of the presentation ceremony, the awards will be conferred upon the selected awardees, who are present. No person other than the awardees will collect the award and prize money at the presentation ceremony. The awardees who are not able to come to receive the award during the presentation ceremony may later receive the same from the Minister—in-Charge for Youth Affairs and Sports.
Can The NSFs De-Recognized Or Under Suspension Nominate A Candidate?
For the NSFs de-recognized or under suspension, Sports Authority of India (SAI) will exercise the quota of nominations and make nominations upto a maximum of two eligible sportspersons for each sports discipline with the approval of Director General, SAL.
What Is The Procedure If More Than Two Nominations Are Received From The Concerned Agency?
In case of receipt of more than two nominations from the concerned agency, only the first two nominations sent by the recommending agency will be considered.
What Shall Happen If No Nominations Are Received From The Agencies Mentioned Under The Scheme?
Government reserves the right to make upto 2 nominations of sportspersons/coaches in deserving cases where no such nominations have been received from the agencies mentioned under the Scheme.
Can The Selection Committee, Under Special Circumstance, Consider The Nominations Forwarded By Any Officer Dearer Other Than Those Mentioned In Hte Scheme Guidelines?
No, Nominations forwarded by any officer dearer other than those mentioned will not be considered.
Named after the hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an Indian legendary field hockey player, "Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" (erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award) is the highest sporting honour of India. Instituted in 1991–1992, the award is conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
The spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which award is to be given shall be honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award for excellence in Sports & Games at international level i.e. Olympic/Asian/ Commonwealth/World Games/Championships/World Cup and equivalent recognized international tournaments. As of 2022, the award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25,00,000.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the award is to recognize the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which the award is to be given. During the years when Olympic Games, Commonwealth and Asian Games are held, achievements of the sportspersons upto conclusion of these Games will also be considered.
