Dronacharya Award — Set 1

Correct Answer: A. 1985

• **1985** = The Dronacharya Award was instituted by the Government of India. • **1985** — This award recognizes excellence in sports coaching and is named after the legendary guru Dronacharya from the Indian epic Mahabharata. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option B ('1981'): The award was not instituted in this year; Option C ('1991'): This year is incorrect for the award's institution; Option D ('1995'): This is not the year the Dronacharya Award was established.

Correct Answer: C. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

• **Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports** = This ministry is responsible for conferring the Dronacharya Award. • **All National Sports Awards** — The ministry manages the selection and distribution process for these honors, including the Dronacharya Award. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('Ministry of Culture'): This ministry focuses on arts and heritage, not sports awards; Option B ('Ministry of Home Affairs'): This ministry handles internal security and administration, not sports; Option D ('Ministry of Education'): This ministry focuses on education policy and development, not sports awards.

Correct Answer: D. Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat

• **Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat** = He was the first recipient of the Dronacharya Award in the field of Wrestling. • **1985** — He received this award in its inaugural year for his immense contribution to Indian wrestling. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('Mahavir Singh Phogat'): He is a notable wrestling coach but not the first Dronacharya awardee in wrestling; Option B ('Roshan Lal'): He is a well-known name in wrestling but not the first Dronacharya recipient; Option C ('Satpal Singh'): He is a famous wrestler and coach, but Bhalchandra Bhaskar Bhagwat received the award before him in wrestling.

Correct Answer: A. A Bronze Statuette

• **A Bronze Statuette** = Winners of the Dronacharya Award receive a bronze statue of Dronacharya. • **Statuette** — This statue depicts Dronacharya with his bow and arrow, symbolizing the ancient teacher-student tradition in India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option B ('A Silver Medal'): Winners do not receive a silver medal as part of this award; Option C ('A Gold Plated Shield'): A gold-plated shield is not the form of recognition for Dronacharya awardees; Option D ('A Silk Robe'): A silk robe is not among the items presented with the award.

Correct Answer: C. 2011

• **2011** = The 'Lifetime' category was introduced for the Dronacharya Award in this year. • **2011** — The award was divided into 'Regular' and 'Lifetime' categories, honoring coaches with 20 or more years of contribution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('2005'): This year is incorrect for the introduction of the Lifetime category; Option B ('2015'): The Lifetime category was introduced earlier than this year; Option D ('2018'): This year is incorrect for the introduction of the Lifetime category.

Correct Answer: D. O.M. Nambiar

• **O.M. Nambiar** = He was the first Athletics coach to be honored with the Dronacharya Award. • **1985** — He received the inaugural award for his work in athletics and is famously known as the mentor of P.T. Usha. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('P.T. Usha'): She is a legendary athlete, not primarily known as a Dronacharya awardee coach; Option B ('Jagdish Singh'): He is associated with athletics coaching but was not the first recipient; Option C ('G.S. Randhawa'): He is a former athlete and coach but not the first Dronacharya awardee in athletics.

Correct Answer: A. Cricket

• **Cricket** = Desh Prem Azad, a Dronacharya Award recipient, is primarily associated with this sport. • **1986** — He received the award in this year and is best known as the coach of India's World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option B ('Hockey'): Desh Prem Azad was not primarily associated with hockey; Option C ('Basketball'): He was not known for coaching basketball; Option D ('Football'): Desh Prem Azad's coaching career was not in football.

Correct Answer: A. Renu Kohli

• **Renu Kohli** = She was the first woman to receive the Dronacharya Award. • **Athletics coach** — Renu Kohli was recognized for her consistent results in producing top-level national and international athletes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option B ('Hansa Sharma'): She was a prominent female coach, but Renu Kohli was the first; Option C ('Sunita Sharma'): She is not recognized as the first female Dronacharya awardee; Option D ('Neelam J. Singh'): She is an athlete, not the first female Dronacharya awardee coach.

Correct Answer: C. ₹10 Lakh

• **₹10 Lakh** = The Dronacharya Award (Regular Category) currently carries this cash prize. • **₹10 Lakh** — This amount was increased in 2020 to provide better financial recognition to active sports mentors. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('₹5 Lakh'): This was the previous cash prize, but it has been increased; Option B ('₹15 Lakh'): This is the cash prize for the Lifetime category, not the Regular category; Option D ('₹20 Lakh'): This is an incorrect amount for the Dronacharya Award (Regular Category).

Correct Answer: D. Boxing

• **Boxing** = B.I. Fernandez, the first foreign Dronacharya awardee, coached this sport. • **2012** — Blas Iglesias Fernandez received the award in this year for his massive role in the growth of Indian boxing. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Option A ('Athletics'): B.I. Fernandez was not primarily an athletics coach; Option B ('Wrestling'): His coaching expertise was not in wrestling; Option C ('Archery'): B.I. Fernandez is not associated with coaching archery.