Awards of India
Delhi Police & SSC Exams – GK Section
Introduction to Awards & Honors
Awards in India honor excellence, service, and contribution in diverse fields. From civil and military bravery to outstanding achievement in art, literature, sports, and social work, they encourage recognition and inspiration for all.
Memory Trick: B-P-G-D-K-A-F-S-J-B → Bharat, Padma, Gallantry, Dadasaheb, Khel, Arjuna, Film, Sahitya, Jnanpith, Bravery.
Think: “Big People Give Dedicated Kudos And Fairly Shine Justly & Bravely.” (Mnemonic for all major awards)
Bharat Ratna (India’s Highest Civilian Award)
- Established: 1954
- Given For: Exceptional service in art, literature, science, or public service
- Presented By: President of India
- Shape: Peepal leaf medal with sun engraving
- Notable Recipients:
- Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, C.V. Raman, Sachin Tendulkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lata Mangeshkar
- Number of Recipients (till 2025): 48+
Mnemonic: Bharat Ratna – Brightest Jewel of India.
Padma Awards (Civilian Honors)
- Established: 1954
- Categories:
- Padma Vibhushan – Exceptional & distinguished service
- Padma Bhushan – High order distinguished service
- Padma Shri – Distinguished service in any field
- Fields: Arts, Literature, Science, Sports, Public Affairs, etc.
- Presented By: President of India (on Republic Day)
Mnemonic: Padma – People's Appreciation for Distinguished Merit & Achievement.
Gallantry Awards (Bravery in Defence)
War-Time Gallantry Awards
| Award | Established | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | 1950 | Highest military decoration for bravery |
| Maha Vir Chakra | 1950 | Second-highest war-time gallantry |
| Vir Chakra | 1950 | Third-highest war-time gallantry |
Mnemonic: Param > Maha > Vir — 1, 2, 3.
Peace-Time Gallantry Awards
| Award | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Ashok Chakra | Highest peace-time gallantry award |
| Kirti Chakra | Second-highest |
| Shaurya Chakra | Third-highest |
Mnemonic: Ashok – Always Safe Heroes On Kindness.
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (Cinema)
- Established: 1969
- Field: Outstanding contribution to Indian Cinema
- Given By: Government of India
- Named After: Dadasaheb Phalke – Father of Indian Cinema
- Recent Winners:
- 2021: Asha Parekh
- 2022: Waheeda Rehman
- 2023: Amitabh Bachchan (Lifetime Honor)
Mnemonic: Phalke Award – Film Pioneer's Pride.
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Sports)
- Established: 1991 (as Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, renamed 2021)
- Given For: Highest sporting honor in India
- Presented By: President of India
- Criteria: Spectacular performance over 4 years
Mnemonic: Khel Ratna – India's Sporting Crown.
Arjuna Award
- Established: 1961
- Given For: Consistent excellence in sports
- Award Includes: Bronze statuette of Arjuna, certificate, and cash prize
Mnemonic: Arjuna – Achiever on the Sports Battlefield.
National Film Awards
- Established: 1954
- Presented By: Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of I&B
- Categories: Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, etc.
Mnemonic: National Film Awards = Nation's Cinema Celebration.
Sahitya Akademi Award
- Established: 1954
- Given By: Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters)
- Purpose: Literary excellence in 24 Indian languages
Mnemonic: Sahitya = Storytelling with Excellence.
Jnanpith Award
- Established: 1961
- Given By: Bharatiya Jnanpith Organization
- Purpose: India's highest literary award
Mnemonic: Jnanpith – Journey of Indian Literary Genius.
National Bravery Awards (Children)
- Established: 1957 (by ICCW)
- Purpose: Honors children below 18 who display outstanding bravery
- Awards Include: Bharat Award, Geeta Chopra Award, Sanjay Chopra Award
- Presented On: Republic Day
Mnemonic: Bravery Awards = Boldness Beyond Age.
Summary Table – Major National Awards
| Category | Award Name | Field / Purpose | Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civilian | Bharat Ratna | Highest civilian award | 1954 |
| Civilian | Padma Awards | Service in various fields | 1954 |
| Military | Param Vir Chakra | Bravery in war | 1950 |
| Military | Ashok Chakra | Bravery in peace | 1952 |
| Cinema | Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Indian cinema | 1969 |
| Sports | Khel Ratna / Arjuna Award | Sports excellence | 1991 / 1961 |
| Literature | Sahitya Akademi Award | Literary merit | 1954 |
| Literature | Jnanpith Award | Highest literary honor | 1961 |
| Children | National Bravery Awards | Acts of valor by children | 1957 |
Mnemonic: Ratna–Padma–Chakra–Phalke–Khel–Arjuna–Sahitya–Jnanpith–Bravery.
Real Patriots Cherish Fame, Kind Acts, And Smart Judgments Boldly.
PYQs – Awards in Competitive Exams
Q1. Which is the highest civilian award in India?
A) Padma Vibhushan B) Bharat Ratna C) Jnanpith Award D) Param Vir Chakra
Show Answer
B) Bharat Ratna
Q2. How many categories are there in Padma Awards?
A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5
Show Answer
B) 3 (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri)
Q3. The highest wartime gallantry award is —
A) Vir Chakra B) Param Vir Chakra C) Ashok Chakra D) Maha Vir Chakra
Show Answer
B) Param Vir Chakra
Q4. Who gives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award?
A) Ministry of Defence B) Ministry of Culture C) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting D) Filmfare Organization
Show Answer
C) Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Q5. The Khel Ratna Award is now named after —
A) Major Dhyan Chand B) Rajiv Gandhi C) Kapil Dev D) Milkha Singh
Show Answer
A) Major Dhyan Chand
Q6. The Sahitya Akademi Award is given for —
A) Music B) Sports C) Literature D) Films
Show Answer
C) Literature
Q7. The Jnanpith Award is the highest in —
A) Sports B) Literature C) Science D) Politics
Show Answer
B) Literature
Q8. Param Vir Chakra is equivalent to —
A) Bharat Ratna B) Gallantry Award C) Sahitya Award D) Padma Shri
Show Answer
B) Gallantry Award
Q9. National Bravery Awards are given to —
A) Soldiers B) Police officers C) Children D) Teachers
Show Answer
C) Children
Q10. Dadasaheb Phalke is known as —
A) Father of Indian Cinema B) Father of Modern India C) Father of Indian Sports D) Father of Indian Literature
Show Answer
A) Father of Indian Cinema
Quick Revision – One-Line Memory
| Award | Category | Key Hint |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | Civilian | Highest Honor |
| Padma Awards | Civilian | 3-tier recognition |
| Param Vir Chakra | Military | Bravery in War |
| Ashok Chakra | Military | Bravery in Peace |
| Dadasaheb Phalke | Cinema | Film Excellence |
| Khel Ratna | Sports | Top Athlete |
| Arjuna Award | Sports | Consistent Performance |
| Sahitya Akademi | Literature | Language-based Writing |
| Jnanpith | Literature | Literary Excellence |
| Bravery Awards | Children | Courage under Danger |
Mnemonic for revision: Real Patriots Cherish Fame, Kind Art, Stories, Joy & Bravery.
Final Concept Recap
- Bharat Ratna – India's highest civilian honor
- Padma Awards – Excellence in diverse fields
- Gallantry Awards – Military bravery (War & Peace)
- Dadasaheb Phalke – Cinema's top honor
- Khel Ratna / Arjuna – Sports excellence
- Sahitya Akademi / Jnanpith – Literary excellence
- National Bravery Awards – Courageous children honored
From Bharat Ratna to Bravery Awards – India salutes excellence, valor, and service.
Master Awards & Honors for Competitive Exams!
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