The Bharat Ratna, established in 1954, is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. It recognizes “exceptional service/performance of the highest order” without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. While originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, the criteria were expanded in 2011 to include “any field of human endeavour.”
total number of recipients till 2025, stands at 53 (notably increased by the historic conferment of five awards in 2024), including 15 posthumous honors.
I.Understanding the Bharat Ratna: Rules and Protocol
The Bharat Ratna is more than an award; it is a significant national protocol.
- Nomination and Conferment: The Prime Minister recommends names directly to the President. No formal committee or public nomination process exists. A maximum of three awards are typically given per year, though 1999 and 2024 were notable exceptions.
- Constitutional Status: Under Article 18(1), the Bharat Ratna cannot be used as a title (prefix or suffix). Awardees cannot write “Bharat Ratna [Name]” on letterheads or visiting cards.
- The Medallion: Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) and a bronze medallion shaped like a peepal leaf. It features the Sun with the words “Bharat Ratna” in Devanagari script on the obverse, and the State Emblem with “Satyamev Jayate” on the reverse.
- Monetary Value: The award carries no monetary grant.
II. Benefits and Privileges of Recipients
While there is no cash prize, the state accords the highest level of respect to the winners:
| Feature | Description |
| Table of Precedence | Ranked at 7A, alongside Governors (outside their states) and the Deputy PM. |
| Travel | Lifetime free Executive Class air travel on Air India and first-class rail travel. |
| Protocol | Status of a “State Guest” when traveling within Indian states. |
| Taxation | Any financial honorarium (if attached via secondary state honors) is exempt from Income Tax. |
| Passport | Issued a Diplomatic Passport, granting access to VIP lounges and faster immigration. |
III. Iconic Recipients and Historic Milestones
The Inaugural Class (1954)
The first three recipients were all from Tamil Nadu, representing the peaks of politics, philosophy, and science:
- C. Rajagopalachari: The last Governor-General of India.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: India’s first Vice-President and second President.
- C.V. Raman: Nobel Laureate physicist (Raman Effect).
Historical Records
- Youngest Recipient: Sachin Tendulkar (2014) at age 40; also the first sportsperson.
- Oldest Recipient: Dhondo Keshav Karve (1958) at age 100.
- First Posthumous: Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966).
- Non-Citizens: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Pakistan, 1987) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa, 1990).
IV. Bharat Ratna Recipients List (1954–2026)
(Posthumous recipients are marked with an asterisk *)
| Year | Recipient | Field / Significance |
| 1954 | C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, C.V. Raman | Founders of the Republic and Science. |
| 1955 | Bhagwan Das, M. Visvesvaraya, Jawaharlal Nehru | Education, Engineering, and Statecraft. |
| 1957 | Govind Ballabh Pant | First CM of Uttar Pradesh. |
| 1958 | Dhondo Keshav Karve | Pioneer of women’s education. |
| 1961 | Bidhan Chandra Roy, Purushottam Das Tandon | “Maker of Modern West Bengal” and “Rajarshi.” |
| 1962 | Rajendra Prasad | First President of India. |
| 1963 | Zakir Husain, P.V. Kane | Educationist President and Sanskrit scholar. |
| 1966 | Lal Bahadur Shastri* | Second PM; “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan.” |
| 1971 | Indira Gandhi | First female recipient; PM during 1971 war. |
| 1975 | V.V. Giri | Trade union leader and 4th President. |
| 1976 | K. Kamaraj* | The “Kingmaker” of Indian politics. |
| 1980 | Mother Teresa | Founder of Missionaries of Charity. |
| 1983 | Vinoba Bhave* | Leader of the Bhoodan Movement. |
| 1987 | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan | “Frontier Gandhi” (Non-citizen). |
| 1988 | M.G. Ramachandran* | Iconic actor-CM of Tamil Nadu. |
| 1990 | B.R. Ambedkar*, Nelson Mandela | Architect of Constitution and Anti-apartheid leader. |
| 1991 | Rajiv Gandhi*, Vallabhbhai Patel*, Morarji Desai | India’s youngest PM, the “Iron Man,” and former PM. |
| 1992 | Abul Kalam Azad*, J.R.D. Tata, Satyajit Ray | Education Minister, Industrialist, and Filmmaker. |
| 1997 | Gulzarilal Nanda, Aruna Asaf Ali*, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Interim PM, Freedom fighter, and “Missile Man.” |
| 1998 | M.S. Subbulakshmi, C. Subramaniam | First Musician recipient and Green Revolution architect. |
| 1999 | J.P. Narayan*, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi*, Ravi Shankar | “Loknayak,” Nobel Economist, Assam’s first CM, Sitar maestro. |
| 2001 | Lata Mangeshkar, Bismillah Khan | “Nightingale of India” and Shehnai virtuoso. |
| 2009 | Bhimsen Joshi | Kirana Gharana Hindustani vocalist. |
| 2014 | C.N.R. Rao, Sachin Tendulkar | Eminent Chemist and Cricket legend. |
| 2015 | Madan Mohan Malaviya*, Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Founder of BHU and former PM. |
| 2019 | Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh*, Bhupen Hazarika* | 13th President, Social reformer, and Folk legend. |
| 2024 | Karpoori Thakur*, L.K. Advani, M.S. Swaminathan*, Charan Singh*, P.V. Narasimha Rao* | “Jan Nayak,” Former Deputy PM, Green Revolution scientist, Farmer-leader PM, and Economic reform architect. |
V. Indian Presidents Honoured with Bharat Ratna
Only six Presidents have received the honour, often for their contributions before or during their tenure.
| President | Year of Award |
| Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | 1954 |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 1962 |
| Dr. Zakir Hussain | 1963 |
| Dr. V.V. Giri | 1975 |
| Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | 1997 |
| Pranab Mukherjee | 2019 |
FAQs on the Bharat Ratna
Who was the first person to receive the Bharat Ratna?
The award was first given to C. Rajagopalachari in 1954.
Can the Bharat Ratna be given to non-Indians?
Yes, it has been awarded to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) and Nelson Mandela (1990).
Is there a cash prize for the Bharat Ratna?
No, there is no monetary reward associated with the award.
Who is the youngest recipient?
Sachin Tendulkar, who received it at age 40 in 2014.
How many people can be awarded in a year?
Usually a maximum of three, though five were awarded in 2024.
Was Subhas Chandra Bose ever awarded?
A posthumous award was announced in 1992 but withdrawn due to legal and family controversies regarding his death.
Is the award given every year?
No, there have been several years without awards, including 2021 and 2022.
Can awardees use the title in their name?
No, using “Bharat Ratna” as a prefix or suffix is prohibited under Article 18(1).
Who recommends the names for the award?
The Prime Minister of India recommends the names to the President.
Who was the first woman to win the Bharat Ratna?
Indira Gandhi in 1971.
