Explore a comprehensive collection of Indian general knowledge on TrueTamil. Get verified details about India's Presidents, Prime Ministers, Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha MPs, Billionaires, Nobel Prize Winners, National Film Award Winners, Padma Awards, Arjuna Awards, and much more — updated 17 April 2026.
The Government of India confers several prestigious civilian and sports honours each year. The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India, given for exceptional service to the nation. It has been awarded to 53 individuals since its inception in 1954, including Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, M. S. Subbulakshmi, and Sachin Tendulkar. The Padma Awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — are the next three civilian honours in descending order of precedence, recognising distinguished service to the nation in fields like arts, science, public affairs, industry, and social work. Padma Awards are announced annually on Republic Day (January 26).
In the field of sports, the Arjuna Award recognises outstanding achievement by Indian sportspersons over the past four years. The Dronacharya Award is given to eminent coaches who have produced medal-winning students at the international level. The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award) is the highest sports honour, awarded for spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years.
India's Parliament consists of two houses. The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house with up to 552 elected members — currently 543 — who are directly elected by the people of India. Members serve 5-year terms unless the house is dissolved earlier. The Rajya Sabha (Council of States) is the upper house with 245 members, of whom 233 represent states and Union Territories and 12 are nominated by the President of India. Rajya Sabha members serve 6-year staggered terms, with one-third retiring every two years. Together, these two houses form the supreme legislative body of the world's largest democracy.
India has produced 12 Nobel Laureates to date. The Nobel Prize is awarded annually in six categories: Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Among the most celebrated Indian Nobel Laureates are Rabindranath Tagore (Literature, 1913 — the first Asian Nobel Laureate), C. V. Raman (Physics, 1930), Mother Teresa (Peace, 1979), Amartya Sen (Economics, 1998), and Kailash Satyarthi (Peace, 2014).
The National Film Awards, presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals under India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, are the most prestigious film honours in India. Tamil films regularly win awards at this ceremony — celebrated directors like Mani Ratnam, Bala, and Pa. Ranjith have received National Awards for their Tamil language films. The Best Feature Film award (Golden Lotus / Swarna Kamal) is the highest honour, while regional language films compete for the Best Film in each language award.
