Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2024, Winners List, Names

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2024 are named after the hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand (1905–79), an Indian legendary field hockey player, the "Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award" (erstwhile Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratan Award) is the highest sporting honour in India. Announced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on 2nd January 2025, the winners of this award will be facilitated by the President of India on 17 January 2025. 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2024

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards were instituted in 1991-92, conferred annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India. Announced on 2 January 2025, Ace Indian Shooter Manu Bhaker, Men’s Hockey Team Skipper Harmanpreet Singh, Chess GrandMaster D Gukesh and Para Athlete Praveen Kumar will be felicitated with this Indian Sports Honour. The awardees will be facilitated by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 17 January 2025. Here is a list of awarded winners: 

List Of Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award Winners 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards, the following eligibility criteria has to be met: 

• The spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports and games at the international level, i.e. Olympic/Asian/Commonwealth/World Games/Championships/World Cup and equivalently recognized international tournaments, by a sportsperson over a period of four years immediately preceding the year during which the award is to be given.
• During the years when Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games are held, the achievements of the sportspersons in these Games and other abovementioned tournaments up to the conclusion of the Olympic Games/Commonwealth/Asian Games, as the case may be, will also be considered.
• Sportspersons who have been penalized or against whom an enquiry is pending or ongoing for the use of drugs/substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will not be eligible for the award.

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards General Conditions

To win the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, the following conditions have to be met: 

• No award will be made for a second time to the same person.
• There will be only one award every year to be given to an individual sportsperson. This condition will be relaxed only in exceptional circumstances.
• The award may be given posthumously if such an occasion arises.
• The Government of India may cancel or annul the award for any recipient for specific reasons, including doping. 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards Benefits

The participants who win the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award will enjoy the following benefits: 

• A cash amount of ₹25,00,000, which is exempt from income tax and wealth tax.
• A Certificate of honor to each sportsperson.
• One medal to each sportsperson. 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards 2024 FAQs

Q1. Who are the recent winners of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Ans. In 2024, the awardees included D Gukesh (Chess), Harmanpreet Singh (Hockey), Manu Bhaker (Shooting), and Praveen Kumar (Para-Athletics).

Q2. What is the criteria for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Ans. The award recognizes athletes with outstanding performance in international events such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and equivalent tournaments, over the four years preceding the award year.

Q3. Which cricketer got the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award?
Ans. Cricketers who have received the award include Virat Kohli in 2018 and Rohit Sharma in 2020.

Q4. When was the Dhyan Chand Award instituted?
Ans. The Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement in Sports and Games was instituted in 2002.

Q5. Who announces the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Awards?
Ans. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, announces the recipients of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.