Bharat Ratna- Highest Civilian Award in India | Testbook.com

The Essence of the Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna, also known as the 'Gem of India,' is the most prestigious civilian honor in the country. It is awarded for extraordinary contributions to the nation in various domains such as Science, Arts, Literature, and exceptional public service. The award can also be presented posthumously, and to date, seven individuals have been honored with the Bharat Ratna posthumously.

The Historic Journey of Bharat Ratna

• The Bharat Ratna was established by the former President of India, Rajendra Prasad, on January 2, 1954.
• The original statute, released in January 1954, did not contain any provision for posthumous awards.
• The provision for posthumous awards was added in the January 1966 statute of this distinguished honor.
• The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan , Sir C.V. Raman, and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari in 1954.
• Sachin Tendulkar is the first sportsperson and the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna.

The Award's Design

• The medallion is cast in Bronze.
• The design of the medallion resembles the leaf of the pipal tree, with a sunburst in the center. The words 'Bharat Ratna' are engraved below it.
• The emblem of India is embossed on the back, with 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed in Devanagari script.
• The medallion is worn around the neck with a white ribbon.
• The award does not include any monetary endowment.

Who is Eligible for Bharat Ratna?

• Initially, the Bharat Ratna was only awarded for achievements in literature, science, arts, and public services. However, the Indian government expanded the criteria in 2011 to include "any field of human endeavor."
• There is no written rule stating that the Bharat Ratna can only be awarded to Indian citizens.
• Recently, the Government of India has revised the eligibility guidelines for sports personalities to receive the Bharat Ratna.

Who Makes the Decision?

• The Prime Minister makes the recommendations for the Bharat Ratna to the President.
• The number of awards given each year is limited to a maximum of three.

Controversies Surrounding Bharat Ratna

• In 1992, Subhash Chandra Bose was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. However, due to the lack of concrete evidence regarding his death, his family refused to accept the award.

Notable Bharat Ratna Recipients

Here is a list of Bharat Ratna Awardees:

Multiple Choice Questions

Q.1 Evaluate the following statements:

1. Lata Mangeshkar was the first singer to receive the Bharat Ratna.
2. Nelson Mandela, former South African President, is the only non-Indian recipient of the Bharat Ratna.
3. The Prime Minister recommends the Bharat Ratna to the President, with a maximum of three awardees each year. The award includes a certificate signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion, but no monetary grant. Bharat Ratna recipients are seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
4. M. Visvesvaraya, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1955, is celebrated on his birthday, September 15, as "Engineer's Day" in India.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A) Only statements 1 and 2 are false.

B) Only statements 3 and 4 are false.

C) All the above statements are true.

D) All the above statements are false.

Q.2 Where do Bharat Ratna recipients rank in the Indian Order of Precedence?

A) Sixth

B) First

C) Seventh

D) Second

Answer: C) Seventh

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