The Arjuna Award, India's second-highest sporting honour, was instituted in 1961 to recognize outstanding athletic achievement. Named after Arjuna, a central figure in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata symbolizing hard work and dedication, it was the country's paramount sports award until the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna was introduced in 1991–1992. Awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it honors sportspersons for their "good performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at the international level, along with leadership and discipline.

As of 2020, recipients receive a bronze statuette of Arjuna, a certificate, ceremonial dress, and a ₹15 lakh cash prize. The award's criteria have evolved, with its latest revision in 2018 focusing on disciplines featured in major multi-sport events like the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, alongside cricket and parasports.