Who Has Won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award? Year-Wise Winners and Key Highlights
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was the highest sporting honor in India until 2021. It was awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to recognize the most outstanding performance by a sportsperson at the international level over a period of four years. In 2021, the award was renamed as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This topic is highly important for General Knowledge, competitive exams, and sports awareness as questions are frequently asked about its winners, history, and significance.
About Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was instituted in 1991-92. It aimed to honor exceptional sporting achievements in Olympic sports, non-Olympic sports, and Paralympic sports. The award included a medal, a certificate, and a cash prize. Over the years, many legendary Indian athletes have received this prestigious recognition.
- Instituted in 1991-92
- Highest sporting honor in India until 2021
- Renamed as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021
- Awarded for outstanding international sports performance
List Of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners (1991-92 to 2021)
| Year | Winner | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | Viswanathan Anand | Chess |
| 1992-93 | Geet Sethi | Billiards |
| 1993-94 | Homi D. Motivala and Pushpendra Kumar Garg | Yachting |
| 1994-95 | Karnam Malleswari | Weightlifting |
| 1995-96 | K. M. Beenamol and Leander Paes | Athletics and Tennis |
| 1996-97 | Anju Bobby George | Athletics |
| 1997-98 | Sachin Tendulkar | Cricket |
| 1998-99 | Jyotirmoyee Sikdar | Athletics |
| 1999-2000 | Dhanraj Pillay | Hockey |
| 2000-01 | Pullela Gopichand | Badminton |
| 2001-02 | Abhinav Bindra | Shooting |
| 2002-03 | Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat | Shooting |
| 2003-04 | Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore | Shooting |
| 2004-05 | Pankaj Advani | Billiards and Snooker |
| 2005-06 | Manavjit Singh Sandhu | Shooting |
| 2006-07 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | Cricket |
| 2007-08 | Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom | Boxing |
| 2008-09 | Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar | Boxing and Wrestling |
| 2009-10 | Saina Nehwal | Badminton |
| 2010-11 | Gagan Narang | Shooting |
| 2011-12 | Vijay Kumar | Shooting |
| 2012-13 | Yogeshwar Dutt | Wrestling |
| 2013-14 | Ronjan Sodhi | Shooting |
| 2014 | PV Sindhu | Badminton |
| 2015 | Sania Mirza | Tennis |
| 2016 | Dipa Karmakar, Jitu Rai, Sakshi Malik, PV Sindhu | Gymnastics, Shooting, Wrestling, Badminton |
| 2017 | Devendra Jhajharia and Sardar Singh | Para Athletics and Hockey |
| 2018 | Virat Kohli and Mirabai Chanu | Cricket and Weightlifting |
| 2019 | Bajrang Punia, Deepa Malik, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Vinesh Phogat | Wrestling, Para Athletics, Cricket |
| 2020 | Rani Rampal, Manika Batra, Vinesh Phogat, Rohit Sharma | Hockey, Table Tennis, Wrestling, Cricket |
| 2021 | Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Lovlina Borgohain, PR Sreejesh and others | Athletics, Wrestling, Boxing, Hockey |
The above table provides a year-wise list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners from its inception in 1991-92 until its renaming in 2021. Several years saw multiple recipients due to outstanding performances in international events such as the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
Key Facts for Competitive Exams
- First recipient - Viswanathan Anand (Chess)
- Award renamed in 2021 to Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
- Given for most outstanding international performance over four years
- Multiple sportspersons can receive the award in the same year
- Includes Olympic, Paralympic, and non-Olympic sports
Importance of the Award
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award played a significant role in promoting excellence in Indian sports. It recognized athletes who brought pride to the nation through their international achievements. The award also motivated young sportspersons to aim for global success and contributed to the development of sports culture in India.
Preparation Tips for GK and Competitive Exams
- Memorize the first winner and the year of establishment
- Remember recent winners from 2018 onwards
- Note the year when the award was renamed
- Focus on winners related to Olympic medal achievements
Understanding the List Of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners helps students strengthen their sports GK section. Questions are commonly asked in exams such as SSC, UPSC, State PSC, Railways, Banking, and other competitive tests. A clear grasp of award history, winners, and key milestones will improve accuracy in the examination.
FAQs on List of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Winners: Complete Year-Wise List for Students
1. What is the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was India’s highest sporting honour, awarded for exceptional performance in sports at the international level.
• Instituted in 1991–92
• Given annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• Recognizes outstanding performance in events like the Olympics, Paralympics, World Championships, and Asian Games
• Renamed in 2021 as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
This award is often searched under terms like India’s highest sports award, Khel Ratna winners list, and top sports honours in India.
2. Who was the first Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winner?
Viswanathan Anand, the legendary Indian chess grandmaster, was the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
• Awarded in 1991–92
• Recognized for excellence in international chess
• Later became a World Chess Champion
This question is common in competitive exams under first Khel Ratna winner and important sports GK questions.
3. Why was the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award renamed?
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was renamed in 2021 to honor hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.
• New name: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
• Announcement made by the Government of India in August 2021
• Aimed to recognize India’s rich hockey legacy
It is frequently searched as why Khel Ratna renamed and latest name of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award.
4. Who are some famous Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners?
Several top Indian athletes have received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award for outstanding international achievements.
Notable winners include:
• Sachin Tendulkar (Cricket)
• Abhinav Bindra (Shooting)
• Mary Kom (Boxing)
• P. V. Sindhu (Badminton)
• Neeraj Chopra (Javelin Throw)
These names are often searched under Khel Ratna awardees list and Indian sports award winners.
5. What are the eligibility criteria for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award?
The award is given to sportspersons for consistent and outstanding international performance over four years.
Key eligibility points:
• Exceptional performance in Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, or World Championships
• Recommendation by national sports federations
• Final selection by a government-appointed committee
This is commonly asked in exams under Khel Ratna eligibility and criteria for highest sports award in India.
6. What does the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award include?
The award includes a medal, certificate, and a cash prize.
Components of the award:
• Medallion
• Certificate of honour
• Cash prize of ₹25 lakh (revised amount)
This detail is often searched as Khel Ratna prize money and benefits of Khel Ratna Award.
7. Which sport has produced the most Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners?
Shooting, wrestling, badminton, and athletics have produced several Khel Ratna awardees over the years.
Examples:
• Shooting – Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang
• Wrestling – Sushil Kumar, Bajrang Punia
• Badminton – P. V. Sindhu
• Athletics – Neeraj Chopra
This question appears in GK sections under sports with most Khel Ratna winners.
8. Can more than one sportsperson receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in a year?
Yes, multiple sportspersons can receive the award in the same year.
• Earlier, only one winner was selected annually
• In recent years, multiple athletes have been honoured together
• For example, in 2020, five athletes received the award
This is commonly searched as multiple Khel Ratna winners in one year.
9. How is the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award different from the Arjuna Award?
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is higher in rank than the Arjuna Award.
Key differences:
• Khel Ratna – Highest sporting honour in India
• Arjuna Award – Second-highest sports award
• Khel Ratna focuses on most outstanding international performance
• Arjuna Award recognizes consistent good performance
This comparison is popular in exams under difference between Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award.
10. Where can I find the complete list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners?
The complete list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award winners is available through official government sports records and annual award announcements.
The list typically includes:
• Name of the sportsperson
• Sport/discipline
• Year of award
This is frequently searched as complete Khel Ratna winners list year-wise and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees PDF for competitive exam preparation.
