The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (RGKR) is India’s highest honour given for achievement in sports, given by theMinistry of Youth Affairs and Sports, government of India. The words “Khel Ratna” literally mean “sports gem” in Hindi. The award is named after the late Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India. It carries a medal, a scroll of honour and a substantial cash component. Up to 2004–05, the cash component was Rs. 500,000/- (c.11,500 USD). In 2005, the money has been increased from Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 750,000.
| Year | Name | Sport Discipline |
| 1991“92 | Viswanathan Anand | Chess |
| 1992“93 | Geet Sethi | Billiards |
| 1993“94 | Not Conferred | |
| 1994“95 | Cdr. Homi D. Motivala | Yachting (Team Event) |
| Lt. Cdr. P. K. Garg | ||
| 1995“96 | Karnam Malleswari | Weightlifting |
| 1996“97 | Nameirakpam Kunjarani | Weightlifting |
| Leander Paes | Tennis | |
| 1997“98 | Sachin Tendulkar | Cricket |
| 1998“99 | Jyotirmoyee Sikdar | Athletics |
| 1999“2000 | Dhanraj Pillay | Hockey |
| 2000“01 | Pullela Gopichand | Badminton |
| 2001“02 | Abhinav Bindra | Shooting |
| 2002“03 | Anjali Ved Pathak Bhagwat | Shooting |
| K. M. Beenamol | Athletics | |
| 2003“04 | Anju Bobby George | Athletics |
| 2004“05 | Lt. Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore | Shooting |
| 2005“06 | Pankaj Advani | Billiards and Snooker |
| 2006“07 | Manavjit Singh Sandhu | Shooting |
| 2007“08 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | Cricket |
| 2008“09 | Mary Kom | Boxing |
| Vijender Singh | Boxing | |
| Sushil Kumar | Wrestling | |
| 2009“10 | Saina Nehwal | Badminton |
| 2010“11 | Gagan Narang | Shooting |
| 2011“12 | Vijay Kumar | Shooting |
| Yogeshwar Dutt | Wrestling | |
| 2012“13 | Ronjan Sodhi | Shooting |
