Bharat Ratna: Highest Civilian Honour, History, Components & Significance

The Bharat Ratna award is the highest civilian honour in India given for ‘exceptional service’ in various fields. The award was instituted on 2nd January 1954 and the first awardees were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C.V. Raman. Originally, the posthumous awards were not given but the rule was amended in 1966. Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first posthumous recipient of the bharat ratna award. The award is not restricted only to Indians but has been given to foreigners as well. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (1987), Nelson Mandela (1990), and Mother Teresa (1980).

The award looks like a bronze peepal leaf with a platinum sunburst. A signed certificate or sanad and special state privileges were given to the awardee without any cash prize. The youngest recipient of Bharat ratna award is Sachin Tendulkar whereas the oldest recipient is Dhondo Keshav Karve.

The following table shows the list of bharat ratna recipients from 1954 to 2024.

The following table shows the comparison of the names of the highest civilian honour of India with some other countries in the world.

• Instituted in 1954: The bharat ratna award was instituted in 1954 by the then President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The award recognises exceptional national service.
• First Recipients: The first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari who was a politician, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was a philosopher, and Nobel laureate physicist C.V. Raman.
• Posthumous Awardee Rule: Originally, the bharat ratna awards were given to the living persons. However, the rule was amended in 1966 to confer the awards posthumously. The former prime minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri became the 1st posthumous recipient of the award.
• Expansion of the fields: The award was initially limited to art, literature, science, and public services. In 2011, the criteria for conferring the awards were expanded to cover the achievements across ‘any field of human endeavor’.

• Bharat Ratna Award symbolizes national gratitude and respect. It honors the achievements that have significantly contributed to the nation’s progress and prestige.
• The award does not carry any direct monetary benefits and the recipients are entitled to a lifetime exemption from income tax on any award money.
• They enjoy lifetime complimentary first-class travel on Air India and Indian Railways which ensures ease and comfort in travel.
• The recipients are granted the status equivalent to a fourth cabinet minister when participating in parliamentary sessions. They are accorded with Z-grade security if needed which reflects their national importance.
• They are treated as state guests within India and enjoy VVIP status abroad. They often receive full diplomatic privileges which include a diplomatic passport that facilitates VIP access at airports and government support abroad.

The Bharat Ratna award shall continue to recognize excellence across diverse fields. It encourages the Bharat Ratna awardees to engage with society as role models and increase the societal impact of the award. It also inspires future generations to pursue national development. The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian honor and recognises exceptional service and inspires national pride. It motivates citizens to contribute meaningfully to national progress and global prestige.