National Awards are something that are given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. Similarly, National Awards in India are given at the national and international levels.
The National Award in India is awarded by the government of India to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service or performance across various fields, without discrimination based on age, caste, occupation, religion, etc. Some of the awards at the national and international levels are the most popular.
Many people have dreamed of achieving an award once in their lives. These international awards are from different fields, with prize money offered by different countries and organisations. In this blog, we have listed all the National Awards in India 2025.
Check out: Top 5 Film Awards in India & Padma Awards 2025 Winners List | Check Name and Discipline
National Awards of India – List of Important Awards in India
The important national awards in India vary in different categories, such as Civilian Awards, Gallantry Awards, Sports Awards, Cinema Awards, and Literature Awards.
The national awards in India are-
- Civilian Awards In India
- Gallantry Awards In India
- Sports Awards In India
- Film Awards In India
- Literary Awards In India
- Other Important National Awards
1. Civilian Awards in India
The Civilian Award and Gallantry Award are the most prestigious national awards in India. The Civilian awards include:
- Bharat Ratna: The highest Civilian Award in India, recognising achievements in Science, Literature, Arts, and Public Services, including sports, since 2013.
- Padma Vibhushan: The second-highest civilian award, bestowed upon individuals with distinguished achievements in Arts, Literature, Science, and Public Services.
- Padma Bhushan: The third-highest civilian award, recognising exceptional service in any field, excluding public sector undertakings.
- Padma Shri: The fourth-highest civilian award, presented for outstanding achievements in various fields, including service rendered by Government employees.
| Civilian Awards in India | |
| Award Name | Award Field |
| Bharat Ratna | Arts, literature, science, and public services |
| Padma Vibhushan | Exceptional And Distinguished Service |
| Padma Bhushan | Distinguished Service Of a Higher Order |
| Padma Shri | Distinguished Service |
Civilian Awards Rules:
- The highest Civilian Award in India is “Bharat Ratna”, which was established in 1954. These awards are available to every individual irrespective of their face, profession, status, & sexual orientation.
- This national award is given in honour of very excellent service and achievement in any field of human endeavour.
- The Prime Minister directly recommends the candidates to the President for the Bharat Ratna. There is no need for official advice in this case.
- There may only be a maximum of three awards given in a single year.
- Recipients of the Bharat Ratna receive a medal along with a certificate signed by the President.
- The award does not carry any monetary reward of money.
Also read: Top 10 Most Prestigious Film Awards in the World
2. Gallantry Award in India
The gallantry awards comprise Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirthi Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra awards.
The Gallantry Awards are awarded for conspicuous acts of bravery, valour or self-sacrifice in the presence of danger. These gallantry awards are recognised twice a year – first on the occasion of Republic Day and then on the occasion of Independence Day.
Following India’s independence, the government of India established the first three gallantry awards, namely the Param Vir Chakra, the Maha Vir Chakra and the Vir Chakra on 26 January 1950, and they were deemed to have effect from the 15th August 1947. Check out the list of gallantry awards in India 2025.
Wartime Gallantry Awards in India
| Award Name | Field | Introduced/Established |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra | Military | 1950 |
| Maha Vir Chakra | Military | 1950 |
| Vir Chakra | Military | 1950 |
- Param Vir Chakra – The Param Vir Chakra Award stands as India’s highest military award, which is awarded to an individual displaying courage in confronting hostile forces. The Victoria Cross was awarded to an Indian during World War II, which is equivalent to this.
- Maha Vir Chakra – Maha Vir Chakra is the second-highest military honour in India and is awarded for acts of remarkable courage in the face of the enemy across various domains—land, sea, or air.
- Vir Chakra – Third in precedence in the awards for wartime gallantry.
Peacetime Gallantry Awards in India
| Award Name | Field | Introduced/Established |
|---|---|---|
| Ashok Chakra | Civilians, Military personnel | 1952 |
| Kirti Chakra | Civilians, Military personnel | 1952 |
| Shaurya Chakra | Civilians, Military personnel | 1952 |
- Ashoka Chakra: Highest peacetime gallantry award.
- Kirti Chakra: Second-highest peacetime gallantry award.
- Shaurya Chakra: For valour, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
3. National Sports Awards
National Sports Awards in India are given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It is done to boost the player’s spirit and acknowledge their accomplishments. They are typically rewarded by the President of India during the same ceremony at the presidential Palace, often held on 29th August.
Here we have provided all the National Awards in India in Sports, including:
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: The Highest sporting honour for spectacular and consistent performance.
- Arjuna Award: For outstanding achievements in sports over a period of time.
- Dronacharya Award: For excellence in sports coaching.
- Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: For organisations working towards the promotion of sport.
| Sports Awards in India | ||
| Sports Awards Names | Awards Field | Introduced/ Established |
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | Sports And Games | 1991 |
| Arjuna Award | Sports | 1961 |
| Dronacharya Award | Outstanding Coaches In Sports And Games | 1985 |
| Major Dhyan Chand Award | Sports And Games | 2002 |
| Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy | Running Trophy | 1956 |
| Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar | Sports | 2009 |
4. Literature Awards In India
Literary awards are those national awards in India that are given to authors and poets for an excellent piece of writing and their contribution to the advancement of Indian Literature. This includes literary works in all officially organised languages of India, including English. Several literary awards in India are as follows:
Bharatiya Jnanpith Award: One of the highest literary awards in India, given to those for their exceptional contribution to Indian literature.
Sahitya Akademi Award: For outstanding books of literary merit in 24 Indian languages.
Vyas Samman: For exceptional literary work in the Hindi language, and is considered the second-highest-acclaimed Indian literary honour after the Jnanpith Award.
Rabindra Puraskar: It is known as the highest literary award in Bengali given in the Indian state of West Bengal.
| Literature Awards in India | |
| Award Name | Award Field |
| Bharatiya Jnanpith Award | Best literary writing by an Indian citizen |
| Sahitya Akademi Award | Outstanding literary work |
| Vyas Samman | Outstanding literary work in Hindi |
| Rabindra Puraskar | For literature in Bengali |
5. Film Awards In India
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the national awards in India given in the field of cinema in India. It is India’s highest award in the field of cinema. Every year, the Directorate of National Film Festivals established by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting presents it at the National Film Awards ceremony.
It is recognised as Dadasaheb Phalke as he is known as the Father of Indian Cinema, and thus, the highest National Film Award was named after him in 1969. It includes a Swarna Kamal, a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh and a shawl.
National Film Awards: Include multiple categories for excellence in films, including Best Feature Film, Best Actor/Actress, and Best Director.
| Film Awards in India | |
| Award Name | Award Field |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award (National Film Awards) | Outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema |
| National Film Awards | Excellence within the Indian film industry |
6. Peace Awards
Gandhi Peace Prize – It is named after Mahatma Gandhi and launched by the Government of India, International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary.
It is given to Individuals or institutions for their contribution to society in economic, social, and political growth through nonviolence and Gandhian methods.
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize – Given for contributions to peace, disarmament, and development.
| Peace Awards in India | |
| Award | Award Field |
| International Gandhi Peace Prize | This is an annual award given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and, political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. |
| The Indira Gandhi Peace Prize | The award recognises individuals or organisations for their exceptional contributions to international peace, disarmament, and development. |
7. National Panchayat Awards
The National Panchayat Awards are a prestigious recognition conferred by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, to recognize and incentivize the exemplary performance of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country.
These national awards aim to promote decentralized governance and encourage PRIs to adopt best practices in local self-governance and sustainable development.
Categories of National Panchayat Awards:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar (DDUPSVP): Awarded to the top three Gram Panchayats (GPs) under each of the nine thematic areas aligned with the Local Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
- Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar: Recognizes the top three Gram Panchayats, Block Panchayats, and District Panchayats with the highest aggregate scores across all nine thematic areas.
- Special Category Awards:
- Gram Urja Swaraj Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: For three GPs excelling in the adoption and usage of renewable energy sources.
- Carbon Neutral Vishesh Panchayat Puraskar: Three GPs making significant strides towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions.
- Panchayat Kshamta Nirmaan Sarvottam Sansthan Puraskar: For three institutions providing outstanding support to GPs in achieving LSDGs.
- Best Participant (State/District): Awarded to the State/UT with the highest percentage of GP participation (over 90%).
These categories are designed to encourage PRIs to excel in various aspects of rural development and governance, fostering a competitive spirit aimed at holistic community advancement.
Importance of National Awards in India
The government of India recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in their field and dedication to service to society. Several civilian awards have been instituted by various Ministries/Departments/Agencies of the Government of India to recognise people who have excelled in their fields and contributed selflessly to societal welfare. Below are some reasons highlighting the significance of presenting these national awards in India.
- Awardees can earn fame, recognition, and support for their exceptional work through various awards.
- It makes people feel that their work is valued.
- Recognition inspires people to do better work for society.
- An award is nothing but simply represents a token of appreciation.
- Getting awards from higher officials of the country inspires others to contribute positively to society.
- Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, symbolises the aspirations of every Indian to be acknowledged for their exceptional contributions in various fields for the advancement of India.
Pictures of Important International Awards
The photos of the awards at the International level are provided below for the national awards in India.
FAQs – List of Important National Awards In India
Q. Which is the highest award in Indian Cinema?
Dadasaheb Phalke is the highest award in Indian Cinema.
Q. What are civilian awards?
The civilian awards are given to recognised personalities in their respective field of expertise. These awards are presented to the deserving recipients by the President of India on Republic Day. The civilian awards were introduced in 1954.
Q. How many civilian awards are there in India?
Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri are the four civilian awards
Q. Dronacharya Award is given in which field?
The Dronacharya Award is given to outstanding coaches in sports and games.
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