Major Awards of India: Categories and Key Facts (SSC GK Practice)
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Table of Contents
A practice set covering 25 major Indian awards with their category, hierarchy and instituting year, including practice questions and FAQs for SSC GK revision.
Major awards of India are a frequently tested static GK topic in SSC exams, with questions usually asked on the category, instituting year, or founding facts of an award rather than the current year's winner. This practice set covers 25 major Indian awards with their category and key facts, followed by practice questions and FAQs.
Major Awards of India: Quick Reference Table
| # | Award | Category | Key Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bharat Ratna | Highest civilian award | Instituted in 1954 |
| 2 | Padma Vibhushan | Second-highest civilian award | Instituted in 1954 |
| 3 | Padma Bhushan | Third-highest civilian award | Instituted in 1954 |
| 4 | Padma Shri | Fourth-highest civilian award | Instituted in 1954 |
| 5 | Param Vir Chakra | Highest military gallantry award | Instituted in 1950; first awarded for actions in 1947 |
| 6 | Ashoka Chakra | Highest peacetime military gallantry award | Equivalent to the Param Vir Chakra for peacetime bravery |
| 7 | Maha Vir Chakra | Second-highest wartime gallantry award | Awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry |
| 8 | Vir Chakra | Third-highest wartime gallantry award | Awarded for gallantry in the presence of the enemy |
| 9 | Jnanpith Award | Highest literary award in India | Instituted in 1961 by the Bharatiya Jnanpith trust |
| 10 | Sahitya Akademi Award | National literary honour | Given annually by the Sahitya Akademi |
| 11 | Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Highest award in Indian cinema | Instituted in 1969, named after the father of Indian cinema |
| 12 | National Film Awards | Film recognition | Instituted in 1954; given by the Directorate of Film Festivals |
| 13 | Arjuna Award | Outstanding achievement in sports | Instituted in 1961 |
| 14 | Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | Highest sporting honour in India | Instituted in 1991-92 (renamed from Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2021) |
| 15 | Dronacharya Award | Excellence in sports coaching | Instituted in 1985 |
| 16 | Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize | Science and technology | Instituted in 1958; given by the CSIR |
| 17 | Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar | Disaster management | Government of India award for disaster management |
| 18 | Indira Gandhi Peace Prize | Peace, disarmament and development | Instituted in 1986 |
| 19 | Gandhi Peace Prize | Peace and social work | Instituted in 1995 by the Government of India |
| 20 | Kalinga Prize | Popularisation of science | Awarded by UNESCO; associated with the Kalinga Foundation Trust, India |
| 21 | Saraswati Samman | Literary award | Given by the K.K. Birla Foundation |
| 22 | Vyas Samman | Hindi literature award | Given by the K.K. Birla Foundation |
| 23 | Moortidevi Award | Literary award | Given by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organisation |
| 24 | Pulitzer-style National Awards (Ramon Magsaysay Award context) | Public service (Asia) | Often called "Asia's Nobel Prize," though not an Indian government award |
| 25 | Param Vishisht Seva Medal | Distinguished military service | Awarded for distinguished service of the most exceptional order |
Practice Questions on Awards of India
- Q1. Which is the highest civilian award in India?
Answer: Bharat Ratna - Q2. Which is the highest military gallantry award in India?
Answer: Param Vir Chakra - Q3. Which is the highest peacetime gallantry award in India?
Answer: Ashoka Chakra - Q4. Which is the highest literary award in India?
Answer: Jnanpith Award - Q5. Which is the highest award in Indian cinema?
Answer: Dadasaheb Phalke Award - Q6. Which is the highest sporting honour in India?
Answer: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) - Q7. In which year were the Padma awards instituted?
Answer: 1954 - Q8. Which award is given for excellence in sports coaching?
Answer: Dronacharya Award - Q9. Which organisation gives the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
Answer: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Q10. The Kalinga Prize, for popularisation of science, is given by which organisation?
Answer: UNESCO
Tips to Remember Awards for SSC
- Focus on the category (civilian, military, literary, sports) and the instituting year or body rather than memorising recent winners, since winners change every year.
- Remember the award hierarchy within each category: civilian (Bharat Ratna > Padma Vibhushan > Padma Bhushan > Padma Shri) and military gallantry (Param Vir Chakra > Maha Vir Chakra > Vir Chakra).
- Check our current affairs section separately for the latest award winners, since that information changes yearly.
- Practice more with our previous year questions and study material.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the highest civilian award in India?
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India, instituted in 1954.
2. Which is the highest military gallantry award in India?
Param Vir Chakra is the highest wartime military gallantry award in India, instituted in 1950.
3. What is the Ashoka Chakra awarded for?
The Ashoka Chakra is India's highest peacetime military gallantry award, equivalent in stature to the Param Vir Chakra for peacetime bravery.
4. Which is the highest literary award in India?
The Jnanpith Award, instituted in 1961, is the highest literary honour in India.
5. Which is the highest award in Indian cinema?
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, instituted in 1969, is the highest award in Indian cinema.
6. What is the highest sporting honour in India called today?
It is called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, renamed from the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2021.
7. When were the Padma awards instituted?
The Padma awards (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri) were instituted in 1954.
8. Which award is given for excellence in sports coaching in India?
The Dronacharya Award is given for excellence in sports coaching.
9. Who gives the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize?
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) gives the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for science and technology.
10. What is the Kalinga Prize given for?
The Kalinga Prize is awarded by UNESCO for the popularisation of science and is linked to the Kalinga Foundation Trust in India.
11. What is the order of military gallantry awards in India?
The order is Param Vir Chakra (highest), followed by Maha Vir Chakra, and then Vir Chakra.
12. Who gives the Saraswati Samman and Vyas Samman?
Both the Saraswati Samman and Vyas Samman are given by the K.K. Birla Foundation for literary contributions.
13. Why doesn't this practice set mention current award winners?
Award winners change every year, so this set focuses on stable facts like category, hierarchy and instituting year, which are more reliable for exam preparation.
14. How should I prepare award-related questions for SSC exams?
Learn the category and hierarchy of each award group, and check current affairs resources separately for the latest winners.
15. Where can I find more static GK practice sets like this?
Visit our Practice Papers section for more GK-based SSC practice sets.
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.
