The first recipient of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is Viswanathan Anand in the field of Chess.

Satyajit Ray is the most honoured director where six of his films—Pather Panchali (1955), Apur Sansar (1959), Charulata (1964), Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1968), Seemabaddha (1971), and Agantuk (1991)—won the award, followed Buddhadeb Dasgupta (five), Girish Kasaravalli and Mrinal Sen (four each), Shaji N. Karun (three), and Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Tapan Sinha, and G. V. Iyer (two each).

Meena Kumari (1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972), born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian film actress, singer, and poet under the pseudonym "Naaz", also known as "The Tragedy Queen" and often called the Cinderella of the Indian films.

Indian film critics regarded Meena Kumari as a "historically incomparable" actress of Hindi cinema. Meena Kumari made waves as an actor beyond compare in the 60s, Kumari got the author-backed roles and her male co-stars were said to be wary of starring opposite her. During a career spanning 33 years from her childhood to her death, she starred in about 92 films of a variety of genres, many of which have achieved classic and cult status today, such as Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Pakeezah, Mere Apne, Aarti, Baiju Bawra, Parineeta, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Foot Path, Char Dil Char Rahen, Daera, Azaad, Miss Mary, Sharada, Dil Ek Mandir, Kaajal, Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan, Majhli Didi, Phool Aur Patthar, Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan, Yahudi, Halaku, Baadbaan and Kohinoor. Kumari was also a playback singer, as a child artist till 1945, later as an actress and as a heroine in Duniya Ek Sarai, Piya Ghar Aaja and Bichchade Balam.

Devika Rani is the first recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969.

Widely acknowledged as "the first lady of Indian cinema", the actress debuted in Karma (1933), which was the first Indian English-language film and the first Indian film to feature an on-screen kiss.[17] She also founded the first Indian public limited film company, Bombay Talkies, in 1934.

Bidhan Chandra Roy Award was first awarded in 1973.

The Meritorious Service Medal is the second-highest military decoration awarded by the Chinese government.

The Order of the Heroic Exemplar is the highest military decoration awarded by the Government of the People's Republic of China and was named Heroic Exemplar Medal before 2011. The person who gained the award is called Heroic Exemplar.

Dilip Kumar (born Muhammad Yusuf Khan; 11 December 1922) is an Indian film actor, producer, and activist. Also known as the Tragedy King and the First Khan, he is credited with bringing realism to film acting in the Indian subcontinent and is considered one of the greatest and most influential actors of all time. He has been described as "the ultimate method actor" (natural actor) by Satyajit Ray. Kumar was one of the biggest Indian movie stars, and a pioneer of method acting, predating Hollywood method actors such as Marlon Brando. Kumar debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata (1944), produced by Bombay Talkies. His career has spanned over six decades and over 65 films. Kumar is known for roles in films such as the romantic Andaz (1949), the heartwarming Babul (1950), the impassioned Deedar (1951), the swashbuckling Aan (1952), the dramatic Devdas (1955), the comical Azaad (1955), Naya Daur (1957), Yahudi (1958), Madhumati (1958), Kohinoor (1960), the epic historical Mughal-e-Azam (1960), the social Ganga Jamuna (1961) and Ram Aur Shyam (1967).

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred "in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the government expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavor" in December 2011. The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf-shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.

The Bir Sreshtho (The Most Valiant Hero), is the highest military award of Bangladesh. It was awarded to seven freedom fighters who showed utmost bravery and died in action for their nation. They are considered martyrs.

The other three gallantry awards are named, in decreasing order of importance, Bir Uttom, Bir Bikram and Bir Protik. All of these awards were introduced immediately after the Liberation War in 1971.