Q1. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was conferred Rashtrapati Bhavan (the President’s official residence) in New Delhi.

(a) with attendance

(b) on attendance

(c) for attendance

(d) to attendance

Meaning and Grammar Context

• The phrase “was conferred” means “was presented” or “was awarded.”

• In English grammar, “conferred on/upon” is the correct preposition used when giving or granting an award, honour, or degree to someone or at a place.

  • Example: “The degree was conferred on the graduates.”

In the given sentence, the confusion arises because attendance has been mixed incorrectly with the structure. We must recognize that attendance is not the correct following noun here — the blank should correctly read “at Rashtrapati Bhavan,” since the function of the phrase is to indicate location.

However, since the given options are limited to phrases involving attendance, let’s analyze them:

Option (a) with attendance

• “With attendance” means “together with people present.”

  • Example: “The meeting was held with attendance of delegates.”

  • It sounds grammatically awkward in the given context because awards are not “conferred with attendance.”

Option (b) on attendance

• Grammatically incorrect. “On attendance” does not make sense in standard English usage.

Option (c) for attendance

• “For attendance” means “for being present,” generally used in educational or office contexts.

  • Example: “He received appreciation for attendance in class.”

  • Not meaningful here, since the award is not given for attendance but for excellence in sports.

Option (d) to attendance

• “To attendance” is again incorrect, as no idiomatic or grammatical use fits that structure.

Correct Usage

In actual English, the correct sentence should read:
“The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was conferred at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.”

Since none of the given phrases (with/on/for/to attendance) make grammatical sense, if this were a competitive exam question, it’s likely a misprint, and the answer should be “at Rashtrapati Bhavan.”

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Introduction

Understanding correct prepositional phrases in English grammar is essential for competitive exams and professional writing. A common confusion arises with phrases like “was conferred on,” “was held at,” or “was organized in.” In this article, we explain the grammatically correct form of the famous sentence:
“Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was conferred at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.”

Explanation and Correct Usage

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour, is bestowed by the President of India to outstanding athletes. The ceremony traditionally takes place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, not “with attendance” or “for attendance.”

• “At” is the correct preposition for a place where an event or ceremony happens.

• Using “on,” “for,” or “to attendance” changes the meaning entirely or makes the sentence ungrammatical.

Correct sentence:

The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award was conferred at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Common Prepositional Errors in Similar Sentences

1. Incorrect: The degree was conferred to the students.
   Correct: The degree was conferred on the students.

2. Incorrect: The function was held in the hall.
   Correct: The function was held at the hall.

3. Incorrect: The awards were distributed for the stadium.
   Correct: The awards were distributed at the stadium.