This award is a distinguished category under the broader "Biju Patnaik Sports Award" Scheme. This initiative was launched by the Sports & Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha, to honor the significant contributions of the late Biju Patnaik, the ex-Chief Minister of Odisha, towards the development of sports and games in the state.

• To encourage the development of Sports and Games in the State. • To honour meritorious sportspersons who have made the State Proud. • To inspire and motivate young talents to excel in sports and games by emulating the seniors.

The sports disciplines recognized by International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.), Indian Olympic Association (I.O.A.), Government of India (G.O.I.), Sports Authority of India (S.A.I.) and Government of Odisha (G.O.O.) including Sports Event for Persons with Disability.

The award shall be presented every year subject to the availability of suitable candidates, which will carry a cash award of ₹2,00,000/-.

Awardees are honored with a statue, a scroll of honour, and a blazer with a tie, in addition to the cash award.

Yes, awardees are invited to receive the award in person. They are entitled to Travel Allowance (T.A.) and Daily Allowance (D.A.) at the rate admissible to a Grade 'A' Officer.

Canvassing for the award in any form is strictly prohibited.

Yes, the award can also be given posthumously to the next of kin of the awardee.

In the event of the selection of more than one person for an award, the cash award will be shared among the awardees.

No, it is not binding on the Department of Sports & Youth Services to confer the award every year. In cases where suitable candidates are not available, the award may not be given for the respective year.

To be eligible for the award, the applicant should be a permanent resident of the State of Odisha or must have been staying in the state for a period not less than 07 years.

To be eligible for this award, a sportsperson of Odisha must have achieved outstanding performance in any of the recognized sports during the year making the State of Odisha and India proud.

Yes, the applicant should not have been convicted of any criminal offence to be eligible for the Award.

No, the award will be conferred on a person only once in his/her lifetime, specific to the concerned category.

Yes, Persons found positive for use of drugs/banned substances for performance enhancement, will not be eligible for this Award.

Applicants can collect the application form from the specified offices, fill in the necessary details, attach all the required documents (self-attested), and submit the form to the designated authority.