The country of India has been producing a lot of extremely talented athletes and players from all kinds of sports throughout the years. These players have been bringing a lot of honours to the country. The government of India has also been honouring them with some very much honourable awards for their excellent performances in the international championships in regular intervals. Amongst these awards, the award that is considered as one of the most honourable awards is the "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award". The Indian government launched the scheme in 1991-92 and the main objective of the scheme was to honour the sports persons and try to enhance their general status. The government also has the intention to give these talented sports persons to give greater respect and honour in the society.
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The sportspersons who have done some spectacular and most outstanding performance in their respective field of sports & games at international level competitions like the Olympic or Asian or Commonwealth or World Games/Championships or World Cup or any other equally recognized international tournament in a year are considered as eligible of getting the award. However, if in any case a sports person is found to be guilty for using prohibited drugs and banned by the International Olympic Committee after found positive in the drug test done in any laboratory accredited by the International Olympic Committee will be considered to be ineligible for this prestigious Award. A high profile Selection Committee constituted under the Scheme takes the decision about who will be getting the award in that particular year. The sportspersons, who get the Award, receive an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs, a medal and a very prestigious certificate from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on behalf of the Indian Government.

The award is given to the sportspersons following the recommendation of their respective State and also the National Sports Federations that are recognised by the government of India. The Award is also made in respect of only that calendar year for which the applications have been invited by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. After the recommendation or nominations are sent, the Executive Director (Teams) of the Sports Authority of India and all the concerned National Sports Federations verifies and confirms the achievements or performances of all the nominated sportspersons from their official records and then makes a report and send it to the Selection Committee that is formed every year by the government. The committee is constituted with a prominent sportsperson as the Chairperson and the Director or Deputy Secretary (Sports); Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as the Member-Secretary. There are twelve members more in the committee to help the entire procedure.

There is only one "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award" given to the sportsperson who has got the most brilliant performance amongst all the sportspersons in a calendar year. The Government presents the Award to the winners at a function. The person who has got some other awards for his excellence from the same Ministry of the Indian Government can get this award as well. However, nobody can get the award twice in his life. The Government can give the award to a sportsperson even after the person is dead. The Government of India has the total authority to cancel or withdraw the Award that is already given to a recipient if there is any specific reason. If such situation arises and the Government withdraws a specific sportsperson`s award then the recipient will have to surrender the medal and the scroll of honour.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees
The "Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award" is considered as one of the most honourable awards.There are a very few number of sportspersons from various types of sports have been succeeded to win this award so far. All of these extraordinary sportspersons are amongst the best produced by India. After its inception in the year of 1991-92, the very first recipient of the award is the world famous Chess player from India Vishwanathan Anand.