National Sports Awards
The Government has announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Awards, Dhyan Chnad Awards and Dronacharya Awards for the year 2011. The Selection Panel for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Award was headed by ShriDinesh Khanna, for Dronacharya Award it was headed by Shri Satpal and for Dhyan Chand Award it was headed by Secretary (Sports).
National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, which was established in 1991-92 is given for a spectacular performance in the year under consideration which also considered as the highest sports award in India;
Arjuna award, established in 1961 is the second highest sports honour is given for consistentlyoutstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award;
Dronacharya Award is given to Coaches in sports for producing medal winners, at prestigious international sports events in the past three years and Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development.
Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of 7.5 lakh. Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, citations and cash prize of Rs.5 lakh each.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award – 2011:
Gagan Narang (Shooting) received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for the year 2011. He is the 5th sportsperson ever in the field of shooting to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
Arjuna Awards 2011
Normally not more than 15 Arjuna Award are to be given in any calendar year. However, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards also provides that keeping in view of the performance of Indian sportspersons in the Commonwealth, Asian games and Olympic Games during a particular year, Arjuna Awards exceeding 15 in number may be allowed with proper justification and approval of the Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports. The Committee noted that Asian Games and Commonwealth Games were held in the year 2010, wherein the performance of Indian sportsperson was exceptional. Keeping this factor in view, the Committee recommended that the number of Awards for 2011 may be exceeded beyond 15. Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has approved the recommendation of the Selection Committee for exceeding the number of Arjuna Awards from 15 to 19 this year.
Important Arjuna Awardees
| Name | Discipline |
| Shri Rahul Banerjee | Archery |
| Ms. Preeja Sreedharan | Athletics |
| Shri Vikas Gowda | Athletics |
| Ms. Jwala Gutta | Badminton |
| Shri M. Suranjoy Singh | Boxing |
| Shri Zaheer Singh | Cricket |
| Shri Sunil Chhetri | Football |
| Shri Ashish Kumar | Gymnastics |
| Shri Rajpal Singh | Hockey (Men) |
| Shri Rakesh Kumar | Kabaddi (Men) |
| Ms. Tejeswini Bai V. | Kabaddi (Women) |
| Ms. Tejaswini Ravindra Sawant | Shooting |
| Shri Veerdhawal Vikram Khade | Swimming |
| Shri Somdev Kishore Devvarman | Tennis |
| Shri Sanjay Kumar | Volleyball |
| Shri Ravindra Singh | Wrestling |
| Naib Subedar Katulu Ravikumar | Weightlifting |
| Ms. Wangkhem Sandhyarani Devi | Wushu |
| Shri Prasantha Karamakar | Swimming Paralympics |
Dronacharya Awards for 2011
| Name | Discipline |
| Shri Inukurthi Venkateshwara Rao | Boxing |
| Shri Devender Kumar Rathore | Gymnastics |
| Shri Ramphal | Wrestling |
| Dr. Kuntal Roy | Athletics |
| Shri Rajinder Singh | Hockey |
Dhyan Chand Awards for 2011
| Name | Discipline |
| Shri Shabbir Ali | Football |
| Shri Sushil Kohli | Swimming |
| Shri Rajkumar | Wrestling |
