BHARAT RATNA

BHARAT RATNA

Bharat Ratna to be awarded to Karpoori Thakur and Lal K Advani

 ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian Award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954. 

 Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for these awards. 

There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only. 

 The award has been conferred to a naturalised Indian citizen Mother Teresa (1980) and to two non-

Indians -- Khan Abdul Ghaff ar Khan and Nelson Mandela (1990). Pandit Bhimsen Joshi was the last 

recipient of the award in 2009.

 It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any 

fi eld of human endeavour. 

 The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the 

President. No formal recommendations for this are necessary. 

 The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. 

 On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certifi cate) signed by the President and 

a medallion. The Award does not carry any monetary grant. 

 In terms of Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be used as a prefi x or suffi x to the 

recipient’s name. However, should an award winner consider it necessary, he/she may use the 

following expression in their biodata/letterhead/visiting card etc. to indicate that he/she is a 

recipient of the award.

 In 2011, the Government amended eligibility criteria for Bharat Ratna to allow any Indian citizen, 

regardless of occupation, position or capacity to receive the award.