Awards In India

Award is a distinction. It is the symbol of respect and honour the people one who make great achivements. It is given for marking great achievements in various fields. Awards in India are classified as below categories that are Sports,Literature,Gallantry and Civilian Awards.

Civilian Awards:

It is also known as Padma awards. The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Padma Awards are given on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee. This committee is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process for these awards are open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made. In India, highest civilian award is Bharat Ratna which is followed by Padma Vibhushan, Padma bhushan and Padma Shri in the last. The civilian Award has four categories they are,

• Bharat Ratna – Highest Civilian Award.
• Padma Vibhushan – 2nd highest Civilian Award.
• Padma bhushan – 3rd highest Civilian Award.
• Padma Shri – 4th highest Civilian Award.

Bharat Ratna:

This award is given for achievements in the field of Science, Literature, Arts and Public Services. From 2013 onwards sports also added to this award category.

Padma Vibhushan:

This award is given to the people with distinguished achievements in the field of Arts, Literature, Science, Public Services. It is for exceptional and distinguished service.

Padma bhushan:

This award is given to the people for achievements in any field including service rendered by Government servants including doctors and scientists, but exclude those working with the public sector undertakings. It is for distinguished service of a high order.

Padma Shri:

It is given to the people for achievements in any field including the service rendered by the Government employees. It is for distinguished service.

Gallantry Awards:

Gallantry awards are announced twice in a year – first on the occasion of the Republic Day and then on the occasion of the Independence Day. In respect of the Armed Forces the gallantry award was initiated. Ministry of Home Affairs calls for recommendations (in respect of civilians) from all State/UT Governments, Central Ministries/ Departments, Central Armed Police Forces and Railway Protection Force etc. Recommendations are doesn’t received directly from private individuals, including VIP references. Recommendations are scrutinized by a Sub-Committee in the Ministry of Home Affairs and their recommendation is received in the Ministry of Defence with the approval of Union Home Secretary. Recommendations received from the Armed Forces and Ministry of Home Affairs are considered by the Central Honours & Awards Committee comprising of Raksha Mantri, three Service Chiefs & Defence Secretary. Thereafter, recommendations of the Central Honours & Awards Committee were submitted for approval of the Prime Minister and the President. After the approval of the President, awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day and Independence Day.Order of precedence of these awards are,

• Param Vir Chakra – Highest gallantry award,
• Mahavir Chakra – 2nd highest gallantry award ,
• Vir Chakra – 3rd highest gallantry award,
• Ashoka Chakra-4th highest gallantry award,
• Kirti Chakra- 5th highest gallantry award,
• Shaurya Chakra – 6th highest gallantry award.

Param Vir Chakra:

It is aslo known as “Wheel of the Ultimate Brave”. It is the Highest gallantry award in the Military. It is given to person who have performed a distinguished act of valour at the time of war.

Mahavir Chakra:

This award is given for the acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on the land, at the sea or in the air.

Vir Chakra:

This award is given for the acts of bravery in the battle field.

Ashoka Chakra:

This is given for the bravery courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield. It is the peacetime equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra. This award is open to civilians also.

Kirti Chakra:

This award is given for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the field of battle. It is awarded to civilians and as well as military personnel.

Shaurya Chakra:

This award is given for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice while not engaged in direct action with the enemy. It is also awarded for gallantry other than in the face of the enemy. This award may be granted to civilians or to military personnel and may be awarded posthumously.

Sports Awards:

In sports awards there are seven categories have, they are considered as National level sports awards. These National level sports awards are conferred by Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports. Every year on August 29 India celebrates National Sports Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey wizard Dhyan Chand – who was an integral part of 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympics Gold medal-winning squad. During this National Sports Day the awardees will receive their awards from the President. The National Level Sports awards are given below,

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award,
• Dhronacharya Award,
• Arjuna Award,
• Dhyan Chand Award,
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy,
• Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award,
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award:

It is the Highest award in sports. It is given for the outstanding performance of a person in the field of sports for over a period of four years.

Dhronacharya Award:

This award is given to the coaches who are producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events. It is given to the expert sports teachers.

Arjuna Award:

This award is given for the person who is performing continuous outstanding performance for four years or three years at the International events.

Dhyan Chand Award:

This award is given for the person who is performing lifetime achievement and for the contribution to sports development by life-time.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy:

This award is given to the University which is performing overall top comparing to other university in inter-university tournaments.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award:

This award is given for the outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air over the last three years. The lifetime achievement is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated excellence and have devoted themselves in the promotion of adventure sports.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar:

This award is given to the involvement of corporates, voluntary organizations, and sports control boards, in the promotion and development of sports in the country over the previous three years.

Literature Awards:

Literature award is given to the peoples for their contribution to literature field in form of writing, editing, reviewing, cover designing etc areas of the field. The most important literature awards are given below,

• Jnanpith Award
• Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
• Vyas Samman
• Saraswathi Samman
• Ananda Puraskar
• Yuva Puraskar
• Moortidevi Award
• Rabindra Puraskar
• Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award

Jnanpith Award:

This award is the India’s highest literature award. This award is given to the Indian who have done exemplary literature works in any of the 22 official languages mentioned under the eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Sahitya Akademi Fellowship:

This award is given to the Indian have done immortal literature works exemplary on literature works in any of the 22 official languages mentioned under the eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India. This award is the India’s 2nd highest literature award.

Vyas Samman:

This award is given to the person who done works in Hindi Literature.

Saraswathi Samman:

This award is given to the Indian who have done outstanding works in poetry at any of the 22 official languages mentioned under the eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Ananda Puraskar:

This award is given to the Indian who have done works in Bengali Literature.

Yuva Puraskar:

In order to encourage and promote young writiers under the age of 35 this award is given. This award is given to the Indian who have done literature works in any of the 22 official languages mentioned under the eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Moortidevi Award:

This award is given to the Indian have done work on which emphasizes Inidan philosophy and culture.

Rabindra Puraskar:

This award is the Bengal’s highest literature award.

Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Award:

This award is given by the Ministry Of Human Resource Development annually to the writers of outstanding works in Hindi Travel Literature.