| S.No. | Year | Description |
| 1. | 1985 | Arjuna Award, Outstanding Indian Sportsman (Chess) |
| 2. | 1987 | Soviet Land Nehru Award, for appreciation of outstanding services rendered to the cause of peace and friendship |
| 3. | 1987 | Padma Shri, youngest ever recipient |
| 4. | 1987 | National Citizens Award, for distinctive contribution in the field of Chess |
| 5. | 1988 | Shri Rajiv Gandhi Award Outstanding sports person - Presented during the Great Freedom Run to mark the 40th Anniversary of India’s Independence |
| 6. | 1988 | "Kala Praveena" Conferred Doctorate (Honoris Causa) From the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad |
| 7. | 1991-92 | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, first ever recipient |
| 8. | 1995 | K K Birla Award, person of the year |
| 9. | 1997 | Chess " Oscar" Best Chess Player of 1997 |
| 10. | 1998 | British Chess Federation Book of the Year Award, award presented for "Vishy Anand - My Best Games of Chess." |
| 11 | 1998 | Chess " Oscar" Best Chess Player of 1998 |
| 12 | 1998 | Sportstar Millenium Award, from India's premier Sports magazine for being the sportperson of the millenium |
| 13 | 2000 | Padma Bhushan, for being the first Asian to win the World Championship |
| 14 | 2003 | Chess " Oscar" Best Chess Player of 2003 |
| 15 | 2004 | Chess " Oscar" Best Chess Player of 2004 |