The first Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was given to whom?
- (a)Viswanathan Anand
- (b)Geet Sethi
- (c)Sachin Tendulkar
- (d)Dhanraj Pillai
Correct — A, Viswanathan Anand. India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, was instituted in 1991–92, and its very first recipient was chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand. (The award was renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.)
- (b)Geet Sethi — The billiards champion received the Khel Ratna in 1992–93 — the second year of the award, not the first.
- (c)Sachin Tendulkar — The cricketer was honoured with the Khel Ratna in 1997–98, several years after Anand.
- (d)Dhanraj Pillai — The hockey star received the Khel Ratna in 1999–2000, well after the inaugural award.
The Khel Ratna is India's highest award for a spectacular and outstanding sporting performance, instituted in 1991–92. It sits above the Arjuna Award (for consistent performance) and the Dronacharya Award (for coaches). In 2021 it was renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
The trap is to assume a cricketer — the most famous sportsperson — must have been first. In fact a chess Grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, opened the roll of honour in 1991–92; the cricket and hockey names here came years later.
- Khel Ratna instituted in 1991–92 — India's highest sporting honour.
- First recipient: Viswanathan Anand (chess), 1991–92.
- Given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in sport.
- Renamed the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.
- Assuming the first Khel Ratna went to a cricketer
- Confusing the Khel Ratna (players) with the Dronacharya Award (coaches)
Recall of 'first recipient / year instituted', and matching each sports award to its purpose.
Consider the following pairs with regard to sports awards : 1. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award : For the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over period of last four years 2. Arjuna Award : For the lifetime achievement by a sportsperson 3. Dronacharya Award : To honour eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams 4. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar : To recognize the contribution made by sportspersons even after their retirement How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer(b) Only two
UPSC 2023 tested the same award family — including the Khel Ratna as the honour for the most spectacular sporting performance.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was renamed in 2021 after whom?
- (a)Milkha Singh
- (b)Major Dhyan Chand
- (c)Kapil Dev
- (d)Sardar Patel
Answer(b) Major Dhyan Chand — the hockey legend.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which is India's highest award for outstanding performance in sports?
- (a)Arjuna Award
- (b)Dronacharya Award
- (c)Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
- (d)Padma Shri
Answer(c) The (Major Dhyan Chand) Khel Ratna Award.