In which year was the Arjuna Award, one of India's major national sports honours for outstanding performance in sports and games, first introduced?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the starting year of the Arjuna Award, which is one of India's key national sports honours. The Arjuna Award recognises outstanding achievement in national sports and games, and knowing its year of introduction helps build a timeline of how the country has institutionalised recognition for sportspersons. Such historical details are frequently tested in competitive exams under the topic of honours and awards.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award in question is the Arjuna Award.
- The aim is to identify the year it was first introduced.
- Four years are listed as options: 1971, 1961, 1951 and 1987.
- We assume only one option reflects the actual year the award was instituted by the Government of India.

Concept / Approach:
The Arjuna Award was instituted to recognise sportspersons for consistent outstanding performance at international level. Historically, it was first introduced in the early 1960s, and the correct year is 1961. The approach is to recall this specific year and differentiate it from other dates which may be associated with modifications to sports awards or the introduction of other honours.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Arjuna Award is one of the earliest national sports awards in India. Step 2: Remember from standard GK references that it was instituted in 1961 by the Government of India. Step 3: Compare the given options and identify 1961 as option B. Step 4: Recognise that 1951 is too early for the institutionalisation of this specific award, while 1971 and 1987 refer to later periods. Step 5: Select 1961 as the correct year.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official sources from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and standard general knowledge yearbooks list 1961 as the year when the Arjuna Award was first introduced. Award compilations also mention early recipients from the 1960s. Cross checking with such reliable references confirms that 1961 is the correct answer, and the other years do not match the award's institution date.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1971 is a later year and is associated with other developments in sports and national events, not the initial introduction of the Arjuna Award.
1951 predates the actual institution of the award and does not match the official records of when the honour was created.
1987 is even later and relates to periods when other awards or changes in sports policy took place, not the starting year of the Arjuna Award.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the year of introduction of the Arjuna Award with later years when the award criteria or categories were modified. Some candidates also guess based on round numbers such as 1971 or 1987 without checking standard reference material. Building a short chronological list of major Indian sports awards and their starting years is a helpful revision strategy.

Final Answer:
The Arjuna Award was first introduced in the year 1961.