Overview
Honours outstanding coaches who have consistently raised the performance standards of sportspersons. Awarded in a Regular and a Lifetime category.
Key details
- Age
- No age bar
- Amount / benefit value
- Statuette, certificate and ceremonial dress with a cash prize of ₹10,00,000 for Dronacharya Award (Regular) and ₹15,00,000 for Dronacharya Award (Lifetime).
- Official guidelines PDF
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Note: The Ministry carries out character verification through SAI regional centres before finalising awardees. The current cash prizes (₹10 lakh regular, ₹15 lakh lifetime) were notified in enhancement circular F.No. K-15012/04/2018-SP-IV of August 2020, up from ₹5 lakh in both categories. Circular F.No. K-15012/3/2021-SP-IV(iii) dated 19 May 2021 confirms that for the two lifetime awards, coaching achievements over 20 years or more are considered, while the regular category looks at the four preceding years (1 January 2017 – 31 December 2020 for the 2021 cycle). The governing scheme text (Revised Scheme of Dronacharya Award, amended as on 7 September 2018) fixes the ordinary annual ceiling of five awards with two earmarked for lifetime contribution, limits nominations to not more than two coaches per discipline, and exempts lifetime-category candidates from the marking criteria applied to the regular category.
Eligibility
- ▸ Coaches whose trainees have produced outstanding results at recognised international competitions
- ▸ Lifetime category recognises sustained lifetime contribution to coaching
- ▸ No award is made twice to the same person; it may be conferred posthumously
Benefits
- ✓ Regular category: cash prize of ₹10,00,000
- ✓ Lifetime category: cash prize of ₹15,00,000
- ✓ Statuette, certificate and ceremonial dress
- ✓ Ordinarily not more than 5 awards a year, of which 2 are earmarked for lifetime contribution
Documents required
- ▪ Online application on the awards portal
- ▪ Details and certificates of trainees' achievements
- ▪ Vigilance clearance for Government-employed coaches
Application process
Applications are invited online through the Ministry's awards portal. Character verification is carried out through SAI regional centres before awardees are finalised; the awards are conferred by the President of India, ordinarily on 29 August.
Apply via: Applications are invited online through the Ministry's awards portal. Character verification is carried out through SAI regional centres before awardees are finalised; the awards are conferred by the President of India, ordinarily on 29 August.
Frequently asked questions
How many Dronacharya Awards are given each year?＋
Ordinarily not more than five in a calendar year, of which two are earmarked for lifetime contribution in coaching.
What is the difference between Regular and Lifetime?＋
The Regular category recognises coaching results in the recent assessment period and carries ₹10 lakh; the Lifetime category recognises sustained lifetime contribution to coaching and carries ₹15 lakh.
When are the awards presented?＋
The awards are conferred by the President of India, ordinarily on 29 August, the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. No award is made twice to the same person, and it may be given posthumously.