Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024

PRELIMS

Context: The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honor, was conferred upon outstanding sportspersons for their exceptional achievements, in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

About the Award

• Inception: Introduced in 1991-1992 as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
• Renaming: Renamed in 2021 to honor Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary hockey player often referred to as the “Wizard of Hockey.”
• Purpose:
  • Recognize exceptional international performances by Indian athletes.
  • Motivate athletes and inspire future generations.

Key Details

• Administered by: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.
• Eligibility Criteria:
  1. Outstanding International Performance: Achievements in competitions like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Championships over the last four years.
  2. Clean Record: Athletes must adhere to anti-doping rules.

Nomination and Selection Process

1. Nominating Authorities:
   • National Sports Federations (NSFs),
   • Sports Authority of India (SAI),
   • State Governments, and the
   • Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
   • Special Provision: If no nominations are received, the Government can nominate up to two athletes.
2. Selection Committee:
   • Comprises government officials, Olympians, journalists, and sports experts.
   • Selection is based on a points-based system considering medals in major international events.
   • Finalized by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

2024 Winners of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

Recipient	Sport
Manu Bhaker	Shooting
D Gukesh	Chess
Harmanpreet Singh	Hockey
Praveen Kumar	Paralympic High Jump