The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award) is a prestigious award and the highest sporting honour in India, that is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. The award is given to different sportspersons of India for their excellent performance in their sports in a year.
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Ceremony has been taking place every year since 1992 at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The award is presented by the President of India to sportspersons who have made the country with their spectacular and outstanding performances in the field of sports at an International level. The recipient of the Khel Ratna award receives a medallion, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh. However, a player can win a Khel Ratna award only once in his career.
Objective of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The Khel Ratna award was instituted in 1991-92 with an objective to acknowledge and award the players who have done exceptionally well for India in different sports in a span of the lat four years preceding the year during which the award is to be given. During the years, when major international tournaments take place, such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth games, Cricket World Cup, etc. the recipients of the award will be selected on the basis of their performance in these mage events.
Why Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was changed to Major Dhyan Khel Ratna Award?
When the Khel Ratna award was first instituted in 1991, it was named the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in the honour of the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. However, on 6th August 2021, the current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on his social media that the Khel Ratna will now be renamed after one of the greatest Hockey players in India, Major Dhyan Chand. Since then, the award has been called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Benefits of winning Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
The recipient of the Khel Ratna will receive a cash prize of ₹25 lakhs which will be exempted from Income Tax and Wealth Tax in that year. The winner will receive the award from the hands of the President of India in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on a date that will be determined by the Government. Along with the cash prize and the award, the recipient will receive a certificate and a medal
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Award Winners throughout the years
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