Bharat Ratna Award Winners List: The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s progress. With each passing year, the prestigious award continues to honour outstanding personalities who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of the country. In the year 2024, the Bharat Ratna Award has recognized the exemplary achievements of five remarkable individuals: Karpoori Thakur, Lal Krishna Advani, Charan Singh, P. V. Narasimha Rao, and M. S. Swaminathan. Their contributions in their respective domains have left an enduring impact on India’s growth and development. Let us delve into the list of Bharat Ratna Award winners year-wise to gain a deeper understanding of their remarkable accomplishments and the significance of their recognition. Know more about Bharat Ratna Award Winners below.
Bharat Ratna Award Winners List Year Wise 1954 to 2024
Below we have provided a list of Bharat Ratna Award Winners Year Wise.
| Year | Recipients of Bharat Ratna Award |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Karpoori Thakur, Lal Krishna Advani, Charan Singh, P. V. Narasimha Rao, M. S. Swaminathan |
| 2019 | Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika, Pranab Mukherjee |
| 2015 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya |
| 2014 | C. N. R. Rao, Sachin Tendulkar |
| 2008 | Bhimsen Joshi |
| 2001 | Lata Mangeshkar, Bismillah Khan |
| 1999 | Jayaprakash Narayan, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi, Ravi Shankar |
| 1998 | M. S. Subbulakshmi, C. Subramaniam |
| 1997 | Gulzarilal Nanda, Aruna Asaf Ali, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam |
| 1992 | Abul Kalam Azad, J. R. D. Tata, Satyajit Ray |
| 1991 | Rajiv Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai |
| 1990 | B. R. Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela |
| 1988 | M. G. Ramachandran |
| 1987 | Abdul Ghaffar Khan |
| 1983 | Vinoba Bhave |
| 1980 | Mother Teresa |
| 1976 | K. Kamaraj |
| 1975 | V. V. Giri |
| 1971 | Indira Gandhi |
| 1966 | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| 1963 | Zakir Husain, Pandurang Vaman Kane |
| 1962 | Rajendra Prasad |
| 1961 | Bidhan Chandra Roy, Purushottam Das Tandon |
| 1958 | Dhondo Keshav Karve |
| 1957 | Govind Ballabh Pant |
| 1955 | Bhagwan Das, M. Visvesvaraya, Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 1954 | C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, C. V. Raman |
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History of Bharat Ratna Award
The Bharat Ratna, meaning “Jewel of India,” is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Republic of India. Established in 1954, it recognizes exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.
Early Years (1954-1977):
- Instituted on January 2nd, 1954, by President Rajendra Prasad.
- Initially limited to achievements in arts, literature, science, and public service.
- Originally restricted to a maximum of three awards per year.
- The first recipients in 1954 were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C. V. Raman.
- Awards were temporarily suspended between 1977 and 1980 due to a change in government.
Expansion and Controversies (1980-Present):
- Resumed in 1980 and expanded to include foreign nationals in 1987 with the award to Pashtun leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
- Further broadened in 1990 to include Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa.
- The selection process has faced criticism for being opaque and lacking clear criteria.
- Periods of suspension also occurred between 1992 and 1995 and 2010 and 2011.
- In 2011, the rules were amended to encompass “any field of human endeavor.”
- The number of annual awards was also relaxed, with four recipients in 1999.
Recent Trends and Notable Recipients:
- The award continues to be a prestigious recognition of outstanding contributions.
- Recent recipients include Sachin Tendulkar (sports), Lata Mangeshkar (music), and Ratan Tata (industry).
- The Bharat Ratna remains a symbol of national pride and serves as an inspiration for individuals to strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
Interesting Facts:
- The award does not carry any monetary grant.
- Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
- A total of 45 individuals have been awarded the Bharat Ratna as of 2024.
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First Bharat Ratna Award Winner
There isn’t just one “first” Bharat Ratna award winner. The very first year the award was established, in 1954, three individuals were honoured:
- C. Rajagopalachari: Statesman who served as the last Governor-General of India and Chief Minister of Madras.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: Scholar and statesman who served as the second President of India.
- C. V. Raman: Physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman effect.
So, these three remarkable individuals hold the distinction of being the first recipients of the prestigious Bharat Ratna award.
FAQs on Bharat Ratna Award Winners List
The recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award in 2024 are Karpoori Thakur, Lal Krishna Advani, Charan Singh, P. V. Narasimha Rao, and M. S. Swaminathan.
The Bharat Ratna Award was established in 1954 and is the highest civilian award in India. It recognizes exceptional service or performance in any field of human endeavor. The award was initially limited to achievements in arts, literature, science, and public service, but it has since been expanded to include foreign nationals and individuals from various fields.
As of 2024, a total of 45 individuals have been awarded the Bharat Ratna.
The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award, honored in 1954, were C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and C. V. Raman. C. Rajagopalachari was a statesman, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a scholar and statesman who served as the second President of India, and C. V. Raman was a physicist and Nobel laureate.
Recent recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award include Sachin Tendulkar (sports), Lata Mangeshkar (music), and Ratan Tata (industry). The award continues to be a prestigious recognition of outstanding contributions in various fields and serves as a symbol of national pride.