India has produced over 300 Arjuna Award winners since 1961.
Yet every year, dozens of eligible athletes miss out, not because their performance is lacking, but because they do not know the process.
This guide covers everything you need: eligibility, the scoring matrix, the step-by-step application, and what happens after you submit.
What Is the Arjuna Award?
The Arjuna Award is India’s second-highest sporting honour, established in 1961 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). It sits just below the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in the national hierarchy.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Cash Prize | Rs 15 lakh (~$18,000 USD) |
| Bronze Statuette | Arjuna in archer’s stance, ~35 cm tall |
| Certificate | Signed by the President of India |
| Ceremonial Dress | Presented at the award ceremony |
| Additional Benefits | Railway pass eligibility, enhanced pension under MSPS scheme |
The President of India presents the awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan, ordinarily on August 29 (National Sports Day). In major Games years, the ceremony date shifts. The 2024 awards, for instance, were presented on January 17, 2025, after the Paris Olympics and Paralympics cycle.
For the full list of past and current nominees across sports, see the Arjuna Award Winners List 2026.
Arjuna Award 2026 Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Performance window | Consistent international performance over the last 4 years |
| Sport category | Olympics, Asian Games, CWG, World Cup/Championships, Cricket, Indigenous Games, Para-sports |
| Character | No pending criminal or disciplinary inquiry |
| Doping | Eligible only after completing ban/suspension; achievements during ban excluded |
| Repeat | Award given only once per person |
- Who qualifies under “international performance”? Athletes competing in Olympic disciplines, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Cups, and recognised indigenous games. IPL and domestic tournaments do not count.
- Para-athletes: Fully eligible under parity guidelines revised in 2015. At least one award per year is reserved exclusively for a physically challenged sportsperson.
- Lifetime Category: For retired athletes who have continued contributing to sports development after their playing career.
How to Apply for the Arjuna Award 2026: Step by Step
The Arjuna Award is one of India’s highest sporting honors for outstanding achievements in sports. This guide covers the eligibility criteria, nomination process, required documents, and application steps for Arjuna Award 2026.
Step 1: Register on the Official Portal
Go to www.dbtyas-sports.gov.in and create an account. This is the only route. There is no offline or postal application.
Step 2: Gather Your Performance Documents
Collect everything before you open the application form. You will need:
- International event certificates and scorecards (last 4 years)
- Player-of-the-match or player-of-tournament citations from official events
- NSF (National Sports Federation) ranking documents
- Any World/Asian/Commonwealth Games participation letters
Step 3: Get Your Employer Clearance or Self-Declaration
If employed with a government body, PSU, or private organisation: obtain a signed report from your employer confirming you are clear from all vigilance and disciplinary matters. If self-employed or unemployed: submit a self-declaration stating you have no criminal or moral turpitude case against you.
This step delays most applicants. Start it at least 3-4 weeks before the deadline.
Step 4: Fill and Submit the Online Application
Complete all fields on the portal and upload your documents. After submission, a unique registration number is generated. Save it. It is your only tracking reference.
Step 5: Watch the Deadline
| Cycle | Notification | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Standard year | Opens September | Late October |
| Olympic/Asian/CWG year | Opens September | Up to 10 days after Games close |
| 2025 cycle (reference) | September 2025 | Extended to Nov 4, 2025 |
Watch www.yas.nic.in for the official 2026 notification.
Can You Apply Without Federation Support?
Yes. Since 2018, athletes can self-nominate directly on the portal without any federation recommendation.
However, nominations also come from: National Sports Federations (up to 3 each), Indian Olympic Association (up to 3), State Governments (up to 3 each), Sports Authority of India (up to 3), and BCCI (for cricketers). The Government also reserves the right to nominate up to 3 candidates directly.
Federation backing is not mandatory, but it does strengthen your file during shortlisting.
How You Are Scored: The Selection Matrix
This is the part most athletes never see. Understanding the scoring system is the biggest edge you can have.
80% Weightage: Medal Points Table (Last 4 Years)
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Championship / World Cup (4-yearly) | 40 | 30 | 20 |
| Asian Games | 30 | 25 | 20 |
| Commonwealth Games | 25 | 20 | 15 |
| Asian Championship (biennial) | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| Commonwealth Championship (biennial) | 15 | 10 | 7 |
The athlete with the highest total points in a discipline gets 80 marks. Everyone else is scaled proportionately. Example: if the top scorer has 45 raw points and you have 40, your score is (80 x 40/45) = 71.1 marks.
20% Weightage: Committee Assessment
The Selection Committee evaluates leadership, sportsmanship, team spirit, fair play, and discipline. This 20-mark segment is subjective but documented.
Team Sport Calculation
| Team Size | Multiplier Applied to Individual Event Marks |
|---|---|
| 2 players | 1.5x A / number of players |
| 3-4 players | 2x A / number of players |
| 5-10 players | 3x A / number of players |
| 10+ players | 5x A / number of players |
Only the top 4 scorers in each discipline (2 male, 2 female) go before the Selection Committee. Your competition is within your own sport, not across disciplines.
How Many Awards Are Given?
Normally capped at 15 per year. In Olympic/Asian/CWG years, this cap can be raised with Ministerial approval.
- 2024 cycle: A record 32 athletes received the Arjuna Award, driven by India’s historic 29-medal haul at the Paris Paralympics. 17 of those 32 were para-athletes.
- 2025 cycle: 24 athletes nominated across 17 sports. No cricketers for the second consecutive year. First-ever Yogasana athlete nominated (Aarti Pal).
- Lifetime category: Maximum 3 awards per year.
The Selection Pipeline After You Apply
| Stage | Who Does It | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Verification | Sports Authority of India (SAI) | Within 1 month of application close |
| Doping check | NADA report on every shortlisted athlete | Concurrent with SAI verification |
| Screening | Joint Secretary (Sports) + SAI committee | After SAI verification |
| Selection | Full Selection Committee | Report submitted within 15 days of meeting |
| Final approval | Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports | After Selection Committee report |
| Character check | SAI regional centres + police authorities | Before names are finalised |
All proceedings are confidential. You will not receive interim updates.
Selection Committee Composition
| Role | Composition |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Retired Supreme Court or High Court Judge |
| Sportspersons of eminence | 4 members (Olympians / Khel Ratna / Arjuna awardees) |
| Sports journalists/experts | 3 members |
| Para-sports representative | 1 member |
| CEO, TOP Scheme Secretariat | Ex-officio |
| Executive Director (TEAMS), SAI | Ex-officio |
| Joint Secretary (Sports) | Member Secretary |
No member can be reappointed for at least 2 years after their term. No two members from the same discipline can sit together.
Critical Rules: What Can Get You Disqualified
- Canvassing in any form, lobbying committee members, social media campaigns targeting selectors, all lead to automatic disqualification.
- The award is given only once per person, no exceptions.
- Olympic and Paralympic medallists are automatically considered, even without applying, if they have not already received a Khel Ratna or Arjuna Award.
- The Government can cancel and annul the award post-ceremony for doping convictions. The recipient must return the statuette and certificate.
Final Word: Your Application Starts Today, Not in September
The Arjuna Award is not won on the portal. It is built across four years of documented, verified international performance.
By the time September’s notification goes live, your case is either already strong or it is not. Start tracking your results, keeping your documents in order, and building a clean disciplinary record now. When the window opens, you will be ready.
Official portal: www.dbtyas-sports.gov.in | Official notifications: www.yas.nic.in
FAQs
No. Only international representation and recognised global tournaments are considered.
Yes. Indigenous games are a recognised category. However, international performance in kabaddi is harder to accumulate than in Olympic disciplines.
Only under the Lifetime category, provided they have continued contributing to sport promotion after retirement.
Yes, the award may be given posthumously if the occasion arises.
