Sports and their terms, venues and tournaments; India's national and gallantry awards and civilian honours; classical arts and UNESCO heritage basics, as durable facts
Sports, awards, and culture are the static-GK heart of the current-events clause ("culture, music, arts, literature, sports"). The durable facts (which trophy goes with which sport, the order of the civilian honours, which gallantry award is the highest, which dance form belongs to which state) do not change with the news cycle. The dated layer (this year's winners and hosts) is verified separately. This note carries the durable spine; treat any specific recent winner or host as a "verify the latest" item.
| Sport | Trophies / tournaments | Term to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cricket | World Cup, Ashes (Eng-Aus); domestic: Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup | ICC governs internationally |
| Football | FIFA World Cup; domestic: Santosh Trophy, Durand Cup | FIFA governs internationally |
| Hockey | World Cup, Olympic hockey; domestic and historic: trophies vary | India's strong Olympic history |
| Badminton | Thomas Cup (men's team), Uber Cup (women's team), Sudirman Cup (mixed) | BWF governs |
| Tennis | The four Grand Slams: Australian Open, French Open (Roland Garros), Wimbledon, US Open | Davis Cup (men), Billie Jean King Cup (women) |
| Golf | The Majors (Masters, US Open, The Open, PGA Championship) | Ryder Cup |
| Chess | World Chess Championship; Chess Olympiad | FIDE governs |
| Table tennis | Swaythling Cup, Corbillon Cup | ITTF governs |
| Basketball | NBA; FIBA World Cup | FIBA governs |
| Event | Note |
|---|---|
| Olympic Games | Held every 4 years; governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC, Lausanne); Summer and Winter editions |
| Asian Games | Continental multi-sport event; governed by the Olympic Council of Asia |
| Commonwealth Games | Among Commonwealth nations |
| Paralympic Games | For athletes with disabilities |
Verify the latest Olympic, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games hosts and India's medal tally as dated items.
| Award | Rank / field |
|---|---|
| Bharat Ratna | The highest civilian award; exceptional service of the highest order |
| Padma Vibhushan | Second highest; exceptional and distinguished service |
| Padma Bhushan | Distinguished service of a high order |
| Padma Shri | Distinguished service |
The Padma awards are announced around Republic Day (26 January). The Bharat Ratna is not limited to citizens and has been conferred on a few non-Indians. Verify the latest year's awardees.
| Award | Type | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Param Vir Chakra (PVC) | Wartime gallantry | The highest wartime military gallantry award |
| Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) | Wartime gallantry | Second highest wartime |
| Vir Chakra | Wartime gallantry | Third highest wartime |
| Ashoka Chakra | Peacetime gallantry | The highest peacetime gallantry award |
| Kirti Chakra | Peacetime gallantry | Second highest peacetime |
| Shaurya Chakra | Peacetime gallantry | Third highest peacetime |
CAPF link: CAPF and police personnel are recipients of the peacetime gallantry awards (Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra) and of the President's Police Medal for Gallantry. This is the most CAPF-relevant awards point.
| Award | Field |
|---|---|
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna | The highest sporting honour (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) |
| Arjuna Award | Outstanding performance in sport |
| Dronacharya Award | Coaching in sport |
| Dhyan Chand Award | Lifetime contribution to sport |
| Jnanpith Award | The highest literary award in India (Indian literature) |
| Sahitya Akademi Award | Literary excellence (by the Sahitya Akademi) |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Lifetime contribution to Indian cinema |
National Sports Day is 29 August (Major Dhyan Chand's birthday).
| Classical dance | Origin / state |
|---|---|
| Bharatanatyam | Tamil Nadu |
| Kathak | North India (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Kathakali | Kerala |
| Mohiniyattam | Kerala |
| Kuchipudi | Andhra Pradesh |
| Odissi | Odisha |
| Sattriya | Assam |
| Manipuri | Manipur |
Indian classical music has two broad systems: Hindustani (North) and Carnatic (South). Music and dance forms are recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
| Concept | Note |
|---|---|
| World Heritage Sites | Designated by UNESCO; India has cultural, natural, and mixed sites (verify the current count) |
| Intangible Cultural Heritage | UNESCO list; India entries include Yoga, Kumbh Mela, Vedic chanting, Ramlila, Durga Puja (Kolkata), and others |
| Cultural versus natural sites | Cultural (monuments, ensembles), natural (ecosystems, geology), mixed (both) |
Verify India's current total number of World Heritage Sites and the latest inscriptions.