Major prestigious awards of India which are being conferred by the government of India can be classified in different categories. The broad categories of these awards are Civilian awards, Gallantry awards, Sports awards, Literature awards, and Peace and Leadership Awards. Bravery awards and gallantry awards are different types and should not be mixed together. While gallantry awards are given to army personals for their exemplary role in acts of valor, the bravery awards are given to civilians (Children) for their acts for outstanding courage and bravery during hostile conditions.
National Level Most Prestigious Awards of India
Civilian Awards – Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
Gallantry Awards – Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Ashoka chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Kirti Chakra.
Literature Awards – Jnanpith Awards, Sahitya Akademi Award, Bhasha Samman, Premchandra Fellowship
Sports Awards – Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, Dronacharya award, Arjuna award
Indian Cinema Awards – National Film Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Filmfare Awards
International Awards – Gandhi Peace Prize, Jawaharlal Nehru Award for international understanding, Indira Gandhi Prize
Some other Prestigious Awards of India with Categories
| Category | Awards |
|---|---|
| T.V, Films and Movies | National Film Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Filmfare Awards, Golden Lotus Awards, Silver Lotus Awards, Anandlok Awards for Bengali Cinema, Indian Telly Awards, Nandi Awards for Telugu Cinema, Kishore Kumar Award |
| Literature | Saraswati Samman, Vyas Samman, Kabir Samman, Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad Awards, Vachaspati Samman for Sanskrit literature, Maithilisharan Gupt Award, Iqbal Samman for Urdu Literature, Anand Puraskar for Bengali literature, Sharad Joshi Award |
| Arts | Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar, Kalidas Samman, Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra Award, Kamal Kumari National Award, Shilp- Guru Award for crafts work, Sant Kabir Award for handloom weaver, Devi Ahilyabai Award |
| Classical Dance and Classical Music | Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, Tansen Award, Bhuwalka Award, Tulsi Samman, Hafiz Ali Khan Award, Kalidas Samman, Lata Mangeshkar Award, Kumar Gandharv Award |
| Social Justice | K Veeramani Social Justice Award, Karmaveer Puraskar, Mother Teresa Memorial international award for Social justice, National Awards for empowerment of Person with Disabilities |
| Indian Philosophy and Culture | Moortidevi Award, Shankar Award, Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar, Tagore Award, |
| Social- Communal Harmony, Integration, | Messenger of Harmony Award, Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award, Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration |
| Women Empowerment | Neerja Bhanot Award, Stree Shakti Puraskar, Rani Lakshmibai Mahila Samman, Kittur Rani Chenaamma Awards |
| Dalit Empowerment | Dr Ambedkar National Merit Award |
| Human Rights | M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award, |
| Journalism | B. D. Goenka Award, Chameli Devi Jain Journalism Award, |
| Science and Technology | Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award, Infosys Prize, India Science Award, Ramanujan Prize, Bhaskar Award, CSIR Technology Awards, Gujar Mal Modi Award, G D Birla Award for Scientific Research, Om Prakash Bhasin Award, Vigyan Gaurav Award, H K Firodia Award, J.C. Bos e Medal |
| Economics and Statistics | National Awards in Statistics |
| Medical Science research, Medicines, Biotechnology | Dhanvantari Award, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centenary Award, Dr. B C Roy Memorial Award, FICCI Award, O.P. Bhasin Award, Ranbaxy Science Foundation Award, P. S. Sarma Memorial Award |
| Corporate Business | Emerging India Awards by ICICI Bank, Economic Times Award, Exim Bank Award, Forbes India Leadership Awards, India Business Leader Awards by CNBC TV18, CRISIL Emerging India Awards, Business Today SME Awards, Innovation Awards by Marico, BCI India Awards, Indian Newslink Business Awards, Corporate Governance Awards by Indian Chamber of Commerce |
| Agriculture | Borlaug Award |
| Sports | Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar, C. K. Nayudu Award for Cricket, K K Birla Foundation awards for sports, FICCI India Sports Awards |
| Entrepreneurship | Earnest and Young Entrepreneur Award, |
| Police Awards | President's Police Medal for gallantry, Police Medal for gallantry |
| Bravery Awards | National Bravery Award, Jeevan Raksha Padak, Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards |
| Miscellaneous fileds | Chandrashekhar Saraswati National Eminence Award |
Other Important Prestigious Awards of India
Kalidas Samman
Kalidas Samman is national level highly prestigious award conferred by Government of Madhya Pradesh. This award is presented annually in 4 different categories : Classical Music, Classical Dance, Theater and Visual Arts. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 Kakhs. This award was instituted in year 1980. The first awardees were S. Srinivasa Iyer and Mallikarjun Mansur. (Source – http://www.mp.gov.in/en/web/guest/awards1)
Outstanding Parliamentarian Award
This award is conferred for best all round performance as a member of Parliament. This award was established in year 1992 by the then Loksabha speaker, Shivraj Patil. The first winners was Indrajit Gupta in year 1992.
Jawaharlal Nehru Award
This award is given by Government of India to commemorate the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It is given as a goodwill gesture to individuals for international understanding, imparting friendship and solidarity.
Nehru Literary Award
This award has been instituted by the Indian Adult Education Association for outstanding contribution to the promotion of adult education and literacy in India.
Dadabhai Naroji Award
This award is given for individual contribution to a particular field. The award consists of a cash prize and a silver plaque. Earlier awardees include J. R. D. Tata, Nani A. Palkhivala, Satyajit Ray, M.S. Subbalakshmi, Salim Ali, R. A. Mashelkar, S.S. Badrinath etc.
R. D. Birla National Award
This award is given for outstanding research in medical and related fields. It carries a cash value of Rs 5 lakhs and it is financed by R. D. Birla Trust.
Prani Mitra Award
This award is conferred for exemplary contribution towards animal welfare.The famous animal rights activist Menka Gandhi won this award in year 1999.
National Child Awards for Exceptional Acheivement
This award is conferred to small children between of age group of 4 to 15 years for their exceptional achievements. This award is given by President of India on Children’s day at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This award was established in year 1996 and the first winner was Master Jatinder Jit Singh Sangha.
Appan Menon Memorial Award
The award which carries a cash prize of Rs 1 Lakh aims at providing financial assistance to journalists interested in undertaking projects related to international affairs and developmental issues relevant to India and South Asia.
Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar
The award is conferred on artists on the field of visual and performing arts for lifetime achievement. It carries Rs 2 Lakh in cash, a memento, and scroll of honour. This award was awarded by Sangit Kala Kendra in 1996. First recipient of this award was Lata Mangeshkar in year 1996. Other recipients of the award include M F Hussain, Guru Keluchuram Mohapatra, Pandit Ram Narayan, and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.