Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award, established in 1954 to recognize exceptional service or performance of the highest order.
Bharat Ratna (1954 regulations): The original regulations established the Bharat Ratna in 1954 and set its award criteria. These rules created the award and initially limited recognition to service in the arts, sciences, public service, and literature.
President of India: The President of India is the constitutional head of state of the Republic of India. The president formally confers each Bharat Ratna on the prime minister’s recommendation.
Mother Teresa: Mother Teresa was a Catholic religious sister who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. Her 1980 award recognized humanitarian work and demonstrated that recipients need not be Indian-born.
Bharat Ratna controversies: Bharat Ratna controversies concern disputes over recipient selection, timing, eligibility, and political influence. These debates arise because the honor carries national prestige but has no public nomination or scoring system.
Rajendra Prasad: Rajendra Prasad was an Indian independence leader and the first president of India. As president, he formally instituted the Bharat Ratna in 1954.
Prime Minister of India: The Prime Minister of India leads the Union government and chairs the Council of Ministers. The prime minister recommends Bharat Ratna recipients to the president; no formal nomination process is required.
Nelson Mandela: Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid leader and the country’s first Black president. The 1990 award recognized an international figure and expressed India’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
Posthumous award: A posthumous award is an honor bestowed on a person after their death. The Bharat Ratna has frequently been awarded posthumously, shaping disputes about delayed recognition.
C. Rajagopalachari: C. Rajagopalachari was an Indian independence leader and statesman who served as governor-general of India. He was among the first three Bharat Ratna recipients, recognized in 1954.
Bharat Ratna medal: The Bharat Ratna medal is a bronze-toned, peepal-leaf-shaped medallion bearing the sun and the national emblem. Its design is the physical form in which the award is presented.