MAJOR AWARDS AND HONOURS — CIVILIAN, LITERARY, SPORTS, CINEMA AND PUBLIC SERVICE

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

MAJOR AWARDS AND HONOURS — CIVILIAN, LITERARY, SPORTS, CINEMA AND PUBLIC SERVICE

1. Importance of Awards and Honours

• Awards recognise exceptional achievement, public service, creativity, scholarship, sports excellence and contribution to society.
• In India, some awards are conferred by the Government of India, while others are given by autonomous institutions, foundations or international organisations.
• For examinations, it is important to distinguish between civilian honours, field-specific national awards and international awards.

2. Bharat Ratna

• Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award and was instituted in 1954.
• It is awarded for exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• It is conferred by the President of India on recommendations made by the Prime Minister. (Ministry of Home Affairs)
• It does not carry a monetary grant and cannot be used as a title.

3. Padma Awards

• The Padma Awards were instituted in 1954 and are among India’s highest civilian honours.
• They are awarded in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• Padma Vibhushan recognises exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri distinguished service. (Padma Awards)
• They recognise achievements in areas such as art, literature, science, medicine, public affairs, social work, sports and trade.

4. Dadasaheb Phalke Award

• The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India’s highest honour in the field of cinema.
• It forms part of the National Film Awards system administered under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• It recognises an individual’s outstanding lifetime contribution to Indian cinema. (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting)

5. Jnanpith Award

• The Jnanpith Award, instituted by Bharatiya Jnanpith, is regarded as one of India’s most prestigious literary honours.
• It recognises an author’s outstanding contribution to literature.
• It covers Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution as well as English. (Jnanpith)
• It is important to note that the Jnanpith Award is not a Government of India civilian award.

6. Sahitya Akademi Award

• The Sahitya Akademi Award has been presented annually since 1955 for outstanding literary works in languages recognised by the Akademi.
• Sahitya Akademi currently makes awards in 24 recognised Indian languages.
• The Akademi is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Culture. (Sahitya Akademi)

7. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna

• The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, earlier known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, is India’s highest national sporting honour.
• It recognises spectacular and outstanding sporting performance at the highest level.
• The award scheme dates to 1991–92 and is administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. (YAS)

8. Arjuna Award

• The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961.
• It traditionally recognises sportspersons displaying consistently high international performance along with leadership, sportsmanship and discipline.
• It is one of India’s best-known national sports honours. (YAS)

9. National Teachers’ Award

• The National Teachers’ Award was instituted in 1958 to recognise meritorious teachers and excellence in education.
• Since the mid-1960s, the awards have traditionally been presented on 5 September, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and celebrated as Teachers’ Day. (Ministry of Education, India)

10. International and Other Important Awards

• The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an international Asian honour recognising selfless service and leadership; it is often described as one of Asia’s premier awards. (Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation)
• Other important honours include the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development, various national science awards and cultural awards.
• Such awards should not all be placed in one constitutional category: some are state honours, some institutional awards and some international prizes.
• For examination purposes, remember the broad sequence of civilian honours: Bharat Ratna → Padma Vibhushan → Padma Bhushan → Padma Shri, while awards such as Jnanpith, Khel Ratna and Dadasaheb Phalke recognise excellence in specific fields. (Padma Awards)