President Droupadi Murmu is set to confer the prestigious Bharat Ratna award to five eminent personalities, four of whom will be posthumously honoured. The recipients include former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, renowned agronomist MS Swaminathan, and BJP veteran LK Advani, who is the sole living recipient among the awardees. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Murmu will present the awards.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recommended these five distinguished individuals for the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India. According to reports from the ANI news agency, Lal Krishna Advani will receive the award on Sunday, with President Droupadi Murmu paying a visit to his residence to confer him with this prestigious recognition. This decision was made in consideration of Advani’s ailing health, as he is a founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and played a significant role in shaping its trajectory during the 1990s. With the addition of these five awardees, the total number of Bharat Ratna recipients since its inception in 1954 will reach 53.
Karpoori Thakur, known for his advocacy of backward empowerment, and PV Narasimha Rao, who served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, will be honoured for their contributions to Indian politics. Chaudhary Charan Singh, a prominent figure in anti-Congress politics and a former Prime Minister, will also be posthumously recognised for his leadership. Dr MS Swaminathan, a renowned agronomist, will be acknowledged for his pivotal role in India’s journey towards agricultural self-reliance and his efforts to modernise the agricultural sector.
The Bharat Ratna, established in 1954, is bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to various fields of human endeavour, irrespective of race, occupation, position, or gender. Recipients of the award receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. It is worth noting that the Bharat Ratna does not come with any monetary grant, as clarified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Notably, there were no Bharat Ratna recipients from 2020 to 2023, making this year’s awards particularly significant.
As the nation celebrates the remarkable achievements and legacies of these outstanding individuals, the Bharat Ratna serves as a symbol of recognition for their unparalleled contributions to the progress and development of India across various domains.
