The Arjuna Award was instituted in 1961 as the highest
national recognition for outstanding performance in Sports and Games in the
Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World Championship
disciplines and Cricket. However, controversy over selection has dogged the
awards ever since its inception in 1961. As per the revised scheme from April
2002, the objective of Arjuna Awards is to recognize outstanding performance
of sports persons, at international level only.
The winners will be decided by a Selection Committee
comprising of a Chairperson, who is a sports person of eminence and 12 other
members distinguished in the field of sports including 5 Olympians and 4
Arjuna Awardees from different disciplines, 2 Sports Administrators and a
Member-Secretary of the Committee who would be the Director/Deputy Secretary
(Sports) from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Chairperson of the
Committee in consultation with the Member-Secretary may constitute panels from
among its members to assist the Committee in choosing the winners. Under the
scheme, the awardee is given a bronze statuette of Arjuna, a scroll and a cash
prize of 3 lakh rupees along with a monogram, a blazer and a tie.
Only international level performance of sportspersons will
be taken into account when deciding the awardees. Sports persons found
positive for use of drugs banned by the International Olympic Committee in any
laboratory accredited by International Olympic Committee will not be eligible
for the Arjuna Awards. The maximum number of awards given in a year would be
15, one award in each discipline. However, in the year succeeding Asian Games
and Commonwealth Games an exception could be made for a second award being
given to a sports person in those disciplines in which more than 5 medals have
been won in the Asian/Commonwealth Games.
The nominations for the award will be invited by the
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports from all recognized National Sports
Federations recognized by the Government of India, Indian Olympic Association
(IOA) and State/UT Governments in the month of January each year. As per the
revised scheme, the last date for the receipt of nominations will be 31st
May of the same year. |
