Bharat Ratna: First Winner, Youngest Awardee, Full List Explained Simply

 

🇮🇳 Bharat Ratna Award (1954–2024) – Explained in Simple Words

🌟 What is Bharat Ratna?

1. Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. It was started in 1954.

2. It is given to people who did something great for India — like in public service, literature, science, arts, etc.

3. In a year, only three people can receive the Bharat Ratna.

4. The Prime Minister suggests it, and the President of India grants it.

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🏆 What the Winner Gets?

5. The winner receives a "Sanad" certificate, which is signed by the president.

6. They also get a medal shaped like a peepal leaf with national emblem and the line “Satyamev Jayate” written on it.

7. There is no money or cash given with Bharat Ratna.

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❌ Can You Use It With Your Name?

8. No, you can’t use it as a title before or after your name. This is not allowed under Article 18(1) of the Constitution.

9. For example, you can’t say “Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar” officially.

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📜 How Many Got It Till 2024?

10. Till 2024, 48 people have got the Bharat Ratna.

11. Out of these, 14 people got it after death (called posthumous award).

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✈️ Benefits of Bharat Ratna Winners

12. They are treated like top VIPs – like former Presidents and Governors.

13. They get a diplomatic passport (special for VIP travel).

14. They are entitled to lifetime free business class travel within India.

15. No tax is taken on the award or any gift they get with it.

16. Their names often become part of schools, roads, institutions, etc.

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🧒 Youngest Bharat Ratna Winner

17. Sachin Tendulkar got Bharat Ratna in 2014 when he was only 40 years old.

18. Additionally, he is the first cricketer to receive this honor.

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👴 Oldest Bharat Ratna Winner

19. Dhondo Keshav Karve got Bharat Ratna in 1958 at the age of 100!

20. He was a social reformer who helped in widow remarriage and women’s education.

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🇮🇳 First 3 Bharat Ratna Winners (1954)

21. The initial recipient of the Bharat Ratna award in 1954 was:

• C. Rajagopalachari – last Governor General of India.

• C.V. Raman – scientist, won Nobel Prize.

• India's second president and first vice president was Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

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🤵 Presidents Who Got Bharat Ratna

From 1954 to 2024, 6 Presidents of India got Bharat Ratna:

President Name	Year
Dr. Sarvapalli 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

🏅 Some Special Bharat Ratna Stories

🔸 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

22. In 1992, Govt. tried to give him Bharat Ratna after his death.

23. But his family and fans didn’t agree, because his death was still a mystery, so govt. canceled it.

🔸 Major Dhyan Chand

24. Even though he was a legendary hockey player, he never got Bharat Ratna till now.

25. Many people ask for him to be awarded every year.

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❌ No Awards Given

26. No Bharat Ratna was given in the years 2021 and 2022.

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🏅 2024 Bharat Ratna Winners

27. In 2024, 5 big personalities got Bharat Ratna:

• L.K. Advani –Senior BJP leader and former Deputy prime minister

• P.V. Narasimha Rao – Ex-PM, known for big economic reforms in 1991.

• M.S. Swaminathan – Father of India’s Green Revolution (helped farmers a lot).

• Chaudhary Charan Singh – Former PM and leader of farmers.

• Karpoori Thakur – Former Bihar CM, remembered for helping backward classes and poor.

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📘 Sample List of Few Winners (Selected Important Ones)

Name	Year	State	Contribution
C.V. Raman	1954	Tamil Nadu	Nobel-winning physicist
Jawaharlal Nehru	1955	Uttar Pradesh	First PM of India
Lal Bahadur Shastri *	1966	Uttar Pradesh	"Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" slogan
Indira Gandhi	1971	Uttar Pradesh	First woman PM, won Indo-Pak war
Mother Teresa	1980	West Bengal	Missionaries of Charity
B.R. Ambedkar	1990	Maharashtra	Constitution maker
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam	1997	Tamil Nadu	Missile Man, President
Lata Mangeshkar	2001	Maharashtra	Nightingale of India
Sachin Tendulkar	2014	Maharashtra	Cricket Legend
Pranab Mukherjee	2019	West Bengal	13th President of India

(* Posthumous award)

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🧠 Conclusion

So, Bharat Ratna is not just a medal. It’s a symbol of India's respect to those people who changed the country in science, arts, politics, social service, and more. It makes them immortal in Indian history.

🇮🇳 Bharat Ratna Award (1954–2024) – FAQ

❓Q1. What is Bharat Ratna?

Ans: The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honor. It was established in 1954 and is awarded for outstanding work in a variety of disciplines, including science, literature, art, public affairs, and more.

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❓Q2. Who decides the Bharat Ratna awardees?

Ans: The Prime Minister recommends the names, and the President of India officially gives the award.

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❓Q3: How many individuals are eligible for Bharat Ratna each year?

Ans: In a single year, only three individuals may get awards.

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❓Q4. What does the Bharat Ratna winner receive?

Ans:

• A "Sanad" certificate signed by the President.

• A medal shaped like a peepal leaf with the national emblem and “Satyamev Jayate.”

• No cash or money is given with this award.

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❓Q5. Can Bharat Ratna be used as a title before or after a name?

Ans: No, using it as a title is not allowed under Article 18(1) of the Constitution.

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