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Sports Ministry defers National Sports Awards, reviews Arjuna selection after rising awardee numbers and legal disputes.
: Arjuna Award winner Mohammed Shami during the Sports and Adventure Awards 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, Jan. 9, 2024. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist Lav)(
The National Sports Awards have reportedly been deferred this year. According to The Indian Express, the Sports Ministry is initiating a comprehensive review of the Arjuna Award selection process to ensure the honour remains exclusive to truly ‘deserving’ athletes.
Despite the awards committee submitting its recommendations in December, the ministry has withheld the final list and begun re-examining the names. The report said the nominations are still under scrutiny, with the primary aim of preserving the prestige of the awards through a more rigorous and selective process.
The move follows concerns within the ministry that, in some cases, the award may have been conferred on athletes without sufficiently strong credentials. The report cited a growing view that the recognition risks losing its value if not awarded judiciously, especially when recipients are unable to demonstrate notable achievements.
The report also highlighted frustration over the increasing number of legal disputes arising from selection decisions, with some athletes challenging the ministry in court.
As many as 24 athletes had been recommended for the Arjuna Award this year, continuing a pattern of rising awardee numbers. This marks a shift from the 2010–2019 period, when the number of recipients crossed 20 only once. In contrast, as many as 32 athletes were honoured in 2024 alone.
The ministry is now exploring structural changes to the selection process. Instead of relying heavily on a selection panel, there is a push toward a transparent, criteria-based system that uses a points mechanism to determine eligibility. As per the report, the idea is to create an automated framework where athletes meeting defined performance benchmarks are recognised without requiring subjective evaluation.
Drawing a parallel, officials noted that Olympic medallists do not need to apply for their cash rewards, as the system automatically disburses the prize money. A similar approach, they suggest, could be adopted for awards, ensuring that athletes who meet the required standards are identified without additional scrutiny.
Traditionally presented on August 29 to mark the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chandthe awards have seen disruptions in recent years due to scheduling conflicts and delays linked to major sporting events.
April 13, 2026, 10:45 PM IST
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