Consider the following pairs with regard to sports awards : 1. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award : For the most spectacular and outstanding performance by a sportsperson over period of last four years 2. Arjuna Award : For the lifetime achievement by a sportsperson 3. Dronacharya Award : To honour eminent coaches who have successfully trained sportspersons or teams 4. Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar : To recognize the contribution made by sportspersons even after their retirement How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Why the answer is (b)
• Pair 1 is correct: the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, is given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance over the preceding four years.
• Pair 3 is correct: the Dronacharya Award honours coaches who have produced medal-winning sportspersons or teams.
• Pair 2 is wrong: the Arjuna Award recognises consistent outstanding performance over four years, not lifetime achievement — that is the Dhyan Chand Award for Lifetime Achievement.
• Pair 4 is wrong: the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar goes to organisations and corporates for promoting sports, not to retired sportspersons.
• Hence two pairs, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one
- Both the Khel Ratna and Dronacharya pairs are correct.
- (c) Only three
- Pairs 2 and 4 are wrong.
- (d) All four
- The Arjuna and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan descriptions are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.