National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years; Arjuna Award is given for consistently outstanding performance for four years; Dronacharya Award for coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events, Dhyan Chand Award for life time contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2016
| Name of awardee | Discipline |
| P. V. Sindhu | Badminton |
| Sakshi Malik | Wrestling |
| Dipa Karmakar | Gymnastics |
| Jitu Rai | Shooting |
Dronacharya Award 2016
| Name of awardee | Discipline |
| Nagapuri Ramesh | Athletics |
| Sagar Mal Dhayal | Boxing |
| Raj Kumar Sharma | Cricket |
| Bishweshwar Nandi | Gymnastics |
| S. Pradeep Kumar | Swimming (lifetime) |
| Mahabir Singh | Wrestling (lifetime) |
Arjuna Award 2016
| Name of awardee | Discipline |
| Rajat Chauhan | Archery |
| Lalita Babar | Athletics |
| Sourav Kothari | Billiards and Snooker |
| Shiva Thapa | Boxing |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Cricket |
| Rani | Hockey |
| Subrata Paul | Football |
| V R Raghunath | Hockey |
| Gurpreet Singh | Shooting |
| Apurvi Chandela | Shooting |
| Soumyajit Ghosh | Table Tennis |
| Vinesh Poghat | Wrestling |
| Amit Kumar | Wrestling |
| Sandeep Singh Mann | Para-Athletics |
| Virender Singh | Wrestling (deaf) |
Dhyan Chand Award 2015
| Name of Awardee | Discipline |
| Satti Geetha | Athletics |
| Sylvanus Dung Dung | Hockey |
| Rajendra Pralhad Shelke | Rowing |