They are presented by the President of India in the same ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan usually on 29 August each year along with the national adventure award.

[1] First presented in the year 1961, a total of two hundred and twenty-nine individuals (including one group award to twenty individuals) have been honoured with the Arjuna Award in non-Olympic sports for their "good performance at the international level" over the period of last four years, with two individuals being awarded for their lifetime contribution.

[2] First presented in the year 1986, a total of twenty-five coaches have been honoured with the Dronacharya Award in non-Olympic sports for their "outstanding work on a consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to excel in international events" over the period of last four years, with four coaches being awarded in the lifetime contribution category.

[3] First presented in the year 1991–1992, a total of nine sportspersons have been honoured with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honour of India, in non-Olympic sports for their "most outstanding performance at the international level" over the period of last four years.

"[5] One awardee Kelly Subbanand Rao was honoured Arjuna Award posthumously in the year 1996 in the discipline of yachting.