Lok Sabha Question No. 3849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-03
Subject: Criteria for Arjun Awards
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.01.2019

Criteria for Arjun Awards

## 3849.  DR. MAMTAZ SANGHAMITA :

Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state :

- (a) the criteria  adopted  by  the  Government  for  selection  of sportspersons for Arjun Awards and other sports awards;
- (b) whether  para-athletes  are  also  considered  for  these  awards and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Paralympics Committee  of  India  had  written to    the  Minister    of  Youth  Affairs    and    Sports  requesting    for postponement    of  Arjuna  Awards    ceremony    and    requested    to conduct it after conclusion of 2018 Asian Para Games so that paraathletes  could  also  be  considered  for  these  awards  for  the  year 2018  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  alongwith  the  reaction  of  the
- Government thereto?
- (d) whether  the  performance  of  only  able-bodied  sportspersons was  considered  for  these  awards  for  2018  excluding  the  paraathletes and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  conduct  the  National Para  Games  during  the    year    2019    on    the    lines    of    National Games and Khelo India Games for able-bodied sportpersons; and
- (f)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENTCHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS [COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)]

- (a) Details  of  criteria,  as  prescribed  in  the  Schemes  of  Sports awards namely Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards,

Dronacharya  Awards  and  Dhyan  Chand  Awards  are  given  in  the Annexure.

(b) Yes,  Madam.  The  para-athletes  are  also  considered  for  the sports awards. In fact, the Scheme of Arjuna Awards provides that at  least  one  award  is  to  be  given  exclusively  for  sports  for physically challenged.

(c) As Sports Awards are conferred by the President of India and the President's Secretariat had confirmed the date for giving sports awards on 25 th  September 2018 as against 29 th  August, birthday of Late  Major  Dhyan  Chand,  on  which  the  awards  are  generally conferred.

As last four years' achievements are considered for Arjuna Awards, medal winners of Para-Asian Games have not been deprived of being considered for Arjuna Award, as they can apply for Arjuna Awards next year and in subsequent years till they are eligible to apply in terms of provisions of the Scheme.

(d) No Madam. The performances of all the eligible sportspersons including  the  para-athletes  were  considered  and  in  fact,  two  para sportspersons  were  among  those  conferred  with  Arjuna  Awards 2018.

(e) and (f)  Organizing  National  Games  is  the  prerogative  of  the Indian  Olympic  Association.  In  case  of  Para  National  Games,  the Paralympic Committee of India has to take a decision. As regards, organizing  of  Khelo  India  Games  for  para-athletes,  there  is  no proposal at present under consideration.

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Annexure referred to in reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No. 3849  to  be  answered  on  03.01.2019  regarding  criteria  for  Arjun Awards by Dr. Mamtaz Sanghamita

|   S. No. | Name of the Award       | Eligibility criteria as per the provisions of the Schemes of the Sports Awards                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|----------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna | (i) Spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which award is to be given shall be honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for excellence in Sports & Games at international level i.e. Olympic/Asian/Commonwealth/World Games/ Championships/World Cup and equivalent recognized international tournaments. (ii) Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom enquiry is pending/ongoing for use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by National Dope Testing Laboratory or any other WADA accredited laboratory, will not be eligible for the Award. |
|        2 | Arjuna Awards           | (i) To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not only good performance over the previous four years at the International level but also should have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline. (ii) Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom enquiry is pending/ongoing for use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by National Dope Testing Laboratory                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |

|    |                    | or any other WADA accredited laboratory, will not be eligible for the Award. (iii) The Government will only consider conferring Arjuna Award in the disciplines falling under following categories : - (a) Olympic Games/Asian Games/ Commonwealth Games/ World Cup/World Championship disciplines and cricket or any equivalent recognized international Tournament, (b) Indigenous Games, (c) Sports for physically challenged.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----|--------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  3 | Dronacharya Awards | (i) To be eligible for the award, coach, whether he/she works full time or part time as coach, he/she should have produced outstanding achievement over a period of four years immediately preceding the year in which the award is to be given. Nominated coach will have to submit details of periods for which he/she coached the disciple(s) in question against whose performance he/she is seeking the Award. The Ministry reserves the right to seek affidavit from the sportsperson concerned where it is found that more than one coach is claiming credit for achievements of a sportsperson. (ii) For 2 awards earmarked for lifetime contribution in coaching, achievements of the coach in producing outstanding sportspersons over a period of 20 years or more will be taken into account. (iii) A coach found encouraging the use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by National Dope Testing Laboratory or any other WADA accredited laboratory, by a sportsperson whom he/she is coaching, will not |

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|    |                    | be eligible for the Dronacharya Award. A coach against whom enquiry is going on/ pending in this regard will also be ineligible. (iv) Sportspersons who have already been conferred with Dhyan Chand Award will not be eligible to apply for Dronacharya Award.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----|--------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  4 | Dhyan Chand awards | (i) To be eligible for the Award, a sportsperson should have had not only good performance at international level but also should have continued to contribute to promotion of sports in his individual capacity even after his career as a sportsperson is over. A sportsperson should also have shown qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and sense of discipline. (ii) Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom enquiry is pending or going on for use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) based on a sample collected by the National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) or any other agency authorized by WADA and tested by the National Dope Testing Laboratory or any other WADA accredited laboratory, will not be eligible for the Award. (iii) Sportspersons who have already been conferred either with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award or Dronacharya Award will not be eligible to apply for Dhyan Chand Award. |

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