National & International Awards: Key Indian Civilian, Gallantry & Global Honors Explained

National and International Awards & Awardees

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🌟 What Are Awards & Recognition?

• Awards acknowledge individuals for exceptional achievements and contributions in various fields.

• They boost motivation by recognizing performance through intrinsic rewards (respect, pride) and extrinsic rewards (medals, certificates).

• In India, awards honor those impacting society, culture, science, military, sports, and arts.

• These awards are important topics in government competitive exams.

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🏆 Important Categories of Awards

Category	Examples	Awarding Body
National Awards	Bharat Ratna, Padma Awards, Gallantry Awards, Sports Awards, Film & Literary Awards	Government of India
International Awards	Nobel Prize, Oscar Awards, Booker Prize, Grammy, Pulitzer	Global Organizations

🇮🇳 National Awards in India: Overview

1. Civilian Awards

• Highest civilian honors, recognizing distinguished service in any field.

• Examples:

  • Bharat Ratna (Highest civilian award)

  • Padma Vibhushan

  • Padma Bhushan

  • Padma Shri

• Details:

  • Introduced: 1954

  • Given by: President of India on Republic Day

  • Selection: Recommended by Prime Minister, approved by President

  • No cash prize is given with Bharat Ratna

• Notable Awardees:

  • Bharat Ratna recipients include Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Mother Teresa, Sachin Tendulkar, Satyajit Ray, and C.N.R. Rao.

2. Gallantry Awards

• Awarded for acts of bravery in military and civilian life.

Award Name	Type	Year Introduced
Param Vir Chakra	Wartime (highest)	1950
Maha Vir Chakra	Wartime (2nd highest)	1950
Vir Chakra	Wartime (3rd highest)	1950
Ashok Chakra	Peacetime (highest)	1952
Kirti Chakra	Peacetime (2nd highest)	1952
Shaurya Chakra	Peacetime (3rd highest)	1952

Notable Awardees:

• • Major Somnath Sharma (first Param Vir Chakra recipient), Captain Vikram Batra, and Subedar Major Bana Singh.

3. Sports Awards

Award Name	Given For	Year Introduced
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna	Outstanding sports achievement	1991
Arjuna Award	Excellence in sports	1961
Dronacharya Award	Outstanding coaching	1985

Notable Awardees:

• • Sachin Tendulkar, P.V. Sindhu, Mary Kom (Arjuna Award), Pullela Gopichand (Dronacharya Award).

4. Film Awards

• Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
  The highest Indian film honor for lifetime contribution.

  • Established: 1969

  • Includes: Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus), cash prize, shawl

• Notable Awardees:

  • Raj Kapoor, Satyajit Ray, Asha Parekh, Amitabh Bachchan.

5. Literary Awards

Award Name	Given For	Cash Prize	Year Introduced
Bharatiya Jnanpith Award	Best literary writing	₹11 Lakhs	1961
Sahitya Akademi Award	Outstanding literary work	₹1 Lakh	1955

Notable Awardees:

• • R. K. Narayan, Amrita Pritam, Ruskin Bond.

6. Other Important National Awards

Award Name	Given To	Year Introduced
Gandhi Peace Prize	Contribution to social growth	1995
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace	Promoting peace & development	1986
Borlaug Award	Agricultural/environmental research	1972

🌍 Important International Awards

Award Name	Field
Nobel Prize	Peace, science, literature
Oscar Awards	Cinema/Film
Booker Prize	Literature
Grammy Awards	Music
Pulitzer Prize	Journalism & literature
UN Human Rights Award	Human rights
Goldman Environmental Prize	Environment

Notable International Awardees:

• • Albert Einstein, Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama (Nobel Peace Prize)

  • Peter Jackson, Meryl Streep (Oscars)

  • Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood (Booker Prize)

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🔑 Why Are National Awards Important?

• Provide recognition and motivation for outstanding work.

• Encourage awardees to continue contributing to society.

• Symbolize respect and appreciation from the nation.

• Enhance public awareness about various fields and inspire youth.

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Summary Flow for Competitive Exams

1. Individual Excellence →

2. Nominations →

3. Committee Review →

4. Prime Minister & President Approval →

5. Award Announcement