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{{short description|India's highest civilian award}}
{{good article}} 
{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Bharat Ratna
| image = Bharat Ratna Award.png
| type = National civilian
| country = {{flag|India}}
| presenter = [[File:Emblem of India.svg|20px|State Emblem of India]][[President of India]]
| ribbon = [[File:Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg|100px]]
| obverse = An image of the Sun along with the words "Bharat Ratna", inscribed in [[Devanagari]] script, on a [[peepal]] (''Ficus religiosa'') leaf
| reverse = A platinum [[State Emblem of India]] placed in the centre with the national motto, "[[Satyameva Jayate]]" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari script
| established = {{start date and age|df=yes|1954}}
| firstawarded = 1954
{{bulleted list|[[C. Rajagopalachari]]|[[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]]|[[C. V. Raman]]}}
| lastawarded = 2019
{{bulleted list|[[Nanaji Deshmukh]] (Posthumous)|[[Bhupen Hazarika]] (Posthumous)|[[Pranab Mukherjee]]}}
| total_awarded = 48
| description =
| higher = ''None''
| lower = [[File:Padma Vibhushan Ribbon.svg|x15px]] [[Padma Vibhushan]]
}}

The '''Bharat Ratna''' ({{IPA-hi|bʰaːɾət̪ rət̪nə}}; ''Jewel of India'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30595436|title=Atal Behari Vajpayee: India honours former PM with Bharat Ratna|date=24 December 2014|access-date=30 October 2015|work=BBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014000840/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30595436|archive-date=14 October 2015}}</ref> is the highest [[Indian honours system|civilian award]] of the [[Republic of India]]. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.<ref name="award1"/><ref name="award2"/><ref name="scheme"/> The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the [[Government of India|government]] expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in December 2011.<ref name="sports"/> The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] to the [[President of India|President]], with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. The recipients receive a ''Sanad'' (certificate) signed by the President and a [[peepal]] leaf-shaped medallion. There is no monetary grant associated with the award. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the [[Indian order of precedence]].

The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were the last [[Governor-General of India|governor-general]] of the [[Dominion of India]] and the former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]], [[C. Rajagopalachari]]; the second [[President of India|president]] and first [[vice president of India]], [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]]; and [[List of Nobel laureates in Physics|Nobel Prize laureate]] and physicist [[C. V. Raman]]; who were honoured in 1954. Since then, the award has been bestowed upon 48 individuals, including 14 who were awarded posthumously. The original statutes did not provide for posthumous awards but were amended in January 1955 to permit them. Former Prime Minister [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] became the first individual to be honoured posthumously. In 2014, cricketer [[Sachin Tendulkar]], then aged 40, became the youngest recipient; while social reformer [[Dhondo Keshav Karve]] was awarded on his 100th birthday. The first singer to be awarded was [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] and the first actor to be awarded was [[M. G. Ramachandran]]. Though usually conferred on India-born citizens, the Bharat Ratna has been awarded to one naturalized citizen – [[Mother Teresa]], and to two non-Indians: [[Abdul Ghaffar Khan]] (born in British India and later citizen of [[Pakistan]]) and [[Nelson Mandela]], born in and citizen of [[South Africa]]. On 25 January 2019, the government announced the award to social activist [[Nanaji Deshmukh]] (posthumously), singer-music director [[Bhupen Hazarika]] (posthumously) and to the former President of India, [[Pranab Mukherjee]].

The Bharat Ratna, along with other personal [[Indian honours system#Civilian awards|civil honours]], was briefly suspended from July 1977 to January 1980, during the change in the national government; and for a second time from August 1992 to December 1995, when several [[public-interest litigation]]s challenged the constitutional validity of the awards. In 1992, the government's decision to confer the award posthumously on [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] was opposed by those who had refused to accept the fact of his [[Death of Subhas Chandra Bose|death]], including some members of his extended family. Following a 1997 [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] decision, the press communiqué announcing Bose's award was cancelled; it is the only time when the award was announced but not conferred.

The bestowals of the posthumous awards of [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]] (1991) and [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] (2015) drew criticism, because they died before the award was instituted.

==History==
On 2 January 1954, a press communique was released from the office of the secretary to the President announcing the creation of two civilian awards—Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, and the three-tier [[Padma Vibhushan]], classified into "Pahela Warg" (Class I), "Dusra Warg" (Class II), and "Tisra Warg" (Class III), which rank below the Bharat Ratna.<ref name="award1">{{cite journal|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1954/E-2233-1954-0001-103507.pdf|title=The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part 1|last=Lal|first=Shavax A.|year=1954|journal=The Gazette of India|publisher=The President's Secretariat|publication-date=2 January 1954|access-date=12 May 2014|pages=2|quote=The President is pleased to institute an award to be designated Bharat Ratna and to make the following Regulations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514155953/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1954/E-2233-1954-0001-103507.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2014}}</ref> On 15 January 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was reclassified into three different awards; the Padma Vibhushan, the highest of the three, followed by the [[Padma Bhushan]] and the [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="award2">{{cite journal|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1955/O-2196-1955-0003-100533.pdf|title=The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part I|last=Ayyar|first=N. M.|year=1955|journal=The Gazette of India|publisher=The President's Secretariat|publication-date=15 January 1955|access-date=18 May 2014|pages=8|quote=The President is pleased to make the following revised regulations for the award of the decoration Bharat Ratna in supersession of those published in Notification No. 1-Pres./54, dated the 2nd January, 1954|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518211317/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1955/O-2196-1955-0003-100533.pdf|archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref>

There is no formal provision that recipients of the Bharat Ratna should be Indian citizens. It has been awarded to a [[naturalization|naturalised]] Indian citizen, [[Mother Teresa]] in 1980, and to two non-Indians, [[Abdul Ghaffar Khan]] of Pakistan in 1987 and the former South African president [[Nelson Mandela]] in 1990.{{sfn|Guha|2001|p=176}} [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]] from Tamil Nadu became the first musician to receive the honour. [[Sachin Tendulkar]], at the age of 40, became the youngest person and first sportsperson to receive the honour.<ref name="sachin">{{cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/715695.html|title=Tendulkar receives Bharat Ratna|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 May 2014|date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626074439/http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/715695.html|archive-date=26 June 2014}}</ref> In a special ceremony on 18 April 1958, [[Dhondo Keshav Karve]] was awarded on his 100th birthday.<ref name=Karve>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/312797/Dhondo-Keshav-Karve|title=Profile: Dhondo Keshav Karve|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=20 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201123354/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/312797/Dhondo-Keshav-Karve|archive-date=1 December 2011}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}{{efn|name=Karve|The Bharat Ratna ceremony is usually held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]], New Delhi but a special ceremony was held at [[Brabourne Stadium]], Mumbai to honour Karve on his 100th birthday, 18 April 1958.{{sfn|Daniel|1958|p=223}}}} {{as of|2019}}, the award has been conferred upon 48 people with 14 posthumous declarations.<ref name="recp54-15"/>

The award was briefly suspended twice in its history.{{sfn|Hoiberg|Ramchandani|2000|p=96}} The first suspension occurred after [[Morarji Desai]] was sworn in as the fourth Prime Minister in 1977. His government withdrew all personal [[Indian honours system#Civilian awards|civil honours]] on 13 July 1977.{{sfn|Bhattacherje|2009|p=A248}}{{sfn|Edgar|2011|p=C-105}} The suspension was rescinded on 25 January 1980, after [[Indira Gandhi]] became the Prime Minister.<ref name="award1980">{{cite journal|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1980/E-1030-1980-0022-45004.pdf|title=The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part I|last=Madappa|first=K. C.|year=1980|journal=The Gazette of India|publisher=The President's Secretariat|publication-date=25 January 1980|access-date=19 June 2016|pages=2|quote=The President is pleased to cancel the President's Secretariat Notification No. 65-Pres/77 dated the 8th August, 1977 by which the Civilian Awards "Bharat Ratna', 'Padma Vibhushan', 'Padma Bhushan' and 'Padma Shri' were cancelled and to direct that the said Awards shall be re-instituted with immediate effect.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160619175317/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1980/E-1030-1980-0022-45004.pdf|archive-date=19 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Bhattacherje|2009|p=A253}} The civilian awards were suspended again in mid-1992, when two [[Public-Interest Litigation]]s were filed, one in the [[Kerala High Court]] and another in the [[Madhya Pradesh High Court]], challenging the "constitutional validity" of the awards.{{sfn|Hoiberg|Ramchandani|2000|p=96}} The awards were reintroduced by the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] in December 1995, following the conclusion of the litigation.{{sfn|Edgar|2011|p=C-105}}<ref name="sci">{{cite web|url=http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=19825|title=Balaji Raghavan S. P. Anand Vs. Union of India: Transfer Case (civil) 9 of 1994|date=4 August 1997|access-date=14 May 2014|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519060941/http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=19825|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

==Regulations==
The Bharat Ratna is conferred "in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.<ref name="scheme">{{cite web|title=Bharat Ratna Scheme|url=http://mha.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Scheme-BR.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|access-date=8 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209002940/http://mha.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/Scheme-BR.pdf|archive-date=9 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The award was originally confined to the arts, literature, science, and public services, as per the 1954 regulations.<ref name="award1"/> In December 2011, the rules were changed to include "any field of human endeavour".<ref name="sports">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2720348.ece|title=Govt changes criteria for Bharat Ratna; now open for all|agency=Press Trust of India|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 December 2011|access-date=16 December 2011|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228161147/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2720348.ece|archive-date=28 December 2013}}</ref> The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards, but this was subsequently modified in the January 1955 statute, and [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] became the first recipient to be honoured posthumously in 1966.<ref name="award2"/><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/E-1697-1966-0012-77227.pdf|title=The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part I|last=Gundevia|first=Y. D.|year=1966|journal=The Gazette of India|publisher=The President's Secretariat|publication-date=11 January 1966|access-date=12 May 2014|pages=2|quote=The President is pleased to award the Bharat Ratna posthumously to:—Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514155724/http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/E-1697-1966-0012-77227.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2014}}</ref>

Although there is no formal nomination process, recommendations for the award can only be made by the [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] to the President with a maximum number of three nominees being awarded per year. However, in 1999, four individuals were awarded the honour. The recipient receives a ''Sanad'' (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion without any monetary grant. Usage of the title 'Bharat Ratna' as a prefix by the awardee is exempt from Article 18 (1) of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]],{{efn|name=Article18|Per Article 18 (1) of the [[Constitution of India]]: Abolition of titles, "no title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf|title=The Constitution of India|access-date=19 May 2014|page=36|publisher=Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909230437/http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf|archive-date=9 September 2014}}</ref>}} as per the Supreme Court's precedent in Balaji Raghavan/S.P. Anand v. Union of India in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1882300/|title=Balaji Raghavan/S.P.Anand vs Union Of India on 15 December, 1995|website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref> Additionally, recipients may either use the expression "Awarded Bharat Ratna by the President" or "Recipient of Bharat Ratna Award" to indicate that they have been honoured with the award.<ref name="scheme"/> The holders of the Bharat Ratna rank seventh in the [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|title=Indian order of precedence|access-date=19 May 2014|publisher=Rajya Sabha Secretariat|page=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704022423/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/guidline_govt_mp/chap11.pdf|archive-date=4 July 2014}}</ref>

As with many official announcements, recipients are announced and registered in ''[[The Gazette of India]]'', a publication released by the Department of Publication, [[Ministry of Urban Development]] used for official government notices; without publication in the ''Gazette'', conferral of the award is not considered official. Recipients whose awards have been revoked or restored, both of which require the authority of the President, are registered in the ''Gazette''. Recipients whose awards have been revoked are required to surrender their medals, and their names are struck from the register.<ref name="award1"/><ref name="award2"/>

==Specifications==
[[File:Bharat Ratna.jpg|thumb|right|Bharat Ratna medal]]
The original 1954 specifications of the award was a circle made of gold {{convert|1+3/8|inch|mm}} in diameter with a centred sun burst design on the obverse side. The text "Bharat Ratna", in [[Devanagari]] Script, is inscribed on the upper edge in silver gilt with a wreath set along on the lower edge. A platinum [[State Emblem of India]] was placed in the center of the reverse side with the national motto, "[[Satyameva Jayate]]" in Devanagari Script ({{lang-sa|सत्यमेव जयते}}; lit. "Truth alone triumphs"), inscribed in silver-gilt on the lower edge.<ref name="award1"/>

A year later, the design was modified. The current medal is in the shape of a [[peepal]] leaf, approximately {{convert|2+5/16|inch|mm}} long, {{convert|1+7/8|inch|mm}} wide and {{convert|1/8|inch|mm}} thick and rimmed in platinum. The embossed sun burst design, made of platinum, on the obverse side of the medal has a diameter of {{convert|5/8|inch|mm}} with rays spreading out from {{convert|5/6|inch|mm}} to {{convert|1/2|inch|mm}} from the center of the Sun. The words "Bharat Ratna" on the obverse side remained the same as the 1954 design as did the emblem of India and "Satyameva Jayate" on the reverse side. A {{convert|2|in|mm|adj=mid|-wide}} white ribbon is attached to the medal so it can be worn around the neck.<ref name="award2"/>{{sfn|Hoiberg|Ramchandani|2000|p=96}}<ref>{{cite press release|title=Crafting Bharat Ratna, Padma Medals at Kolkata Mint|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=102657|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB), India|access-date=13 May 2014|date=21 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517153417/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page.asp?relid=102657|archive-date=17 May 2014}}
* {{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sachins-bharat-ratna-today-a-medal-from-2000/|title=Sachin's Bharat Ratna today a medal from 2000|date=4 February 2014|work=The Indian Express|access-date=13 May 2014|location=New Delhi|last=Ranjan|first=Amitav|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428211303/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sachins-bharat-ratna-today-a-medal-from-2000/|archive-date=28 April 2014}}</ref> In 1957, the silver-gilt decoration was changed to burnished bronze.<ref name="award1"/>{{sfn|Sainty|2011}} The Bharat Ratna medals are produced at [[India Government Mint, Kolkata#Alipore Mint|Alipore Mint]], Kolkata along with the other civilian and military awards like [[Padma Vibushan]], [[Padma Bhushan]], [[Padma Shri]], and [[Param Veer Chakra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=102657|title=Crafting Bharat Ratna, Padma Medals at Kolkata Mint|publisher=Press Information Bureau|date=26 January 2014|access-date=5 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208060357/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/efeatures.aspx?relid=102657|archive-date=8 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.igmint.org/hist.htm|title=History of the Alipore Mint|access-date=15 September 2008|publisher=India Govt Mint, Kolkota|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629011733/http://www.igmint.org/hist.htm|archive-date=29 June 2008}}</ref>

== Entitlements ==
Bharat Ratna can not be used as a prefix or suffix, however recipients may identify themselves as "Awarded Bharat Ratna by the President" or "Recipient of Bharat Ratna Award". The award does not carry any monetary benefits, however there several special entitlements which include:

* The medallion and miniature
* A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India.
* Treatment as a state guests by state governments when traveling within a state.
* Indian missions abroad requested to facilitate recipients when requested.
* Entitlement to a [[Passport#Types|diplomatic passport]]. 
* Lifetime free executive class travel on [[Air India]]. 
* Placed seventh in the [[Indian order of precedence]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Perks of Being a Bharat Ratna, Or How Sachin Can Fly for Free |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/what-are-the-perks-offered-to-a-bharat-ratna-awardee#read-more |access-date=29 November 2021 |publisher=thequint.com}}</ref>

==Controversies==
[[File:Dilip Kumar greets Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan at Meenambakkam Airport, Chennai (c. 1960).jpg |thumb |upright=1.1|[[Dilip Kumar]] greets [[Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan]] at [[Meenambakkam Airport]], [[Chennai]] ({{circa|1960}}). Kumar is the only Indian recipient of Pakistan's highest civilian award, [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]], whilst Khan is the only Pakistani recipient of India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna.]] 
The Bharat Ratna has been mired in several controversies and award grants have been subject to multiple [[Public-Interest Litigation]]s (PILs).{{sfn|Edgar|2011|p=C-105}}{{sfn|Basu|2010|p=132}}<ref name="Ind2D"/><ref name="SachinRTI"/><ref name="DCBR"/>

=== Prime ministers of India ===
[[Jawaharlal Nehru]] has been incorrectly criticised for awarding Bharat Ratna to himself while serving as Prime Minister of India in 1955. This false claim has been debunked<ref>{{Citation |title=Nehru को मिले Bharat Ratna का पूरा सच जानकर होश उड़ जाएंगे {{!}} Tarikh Ep. 04 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmoJ-ClfrSk |language=en |access-date=2023-01-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fact Check: Did Jawaharlal Nehru Award the Bharat Ratna to Himself? |url=https://thewire.in/history/bharat-ratna-jawaharlal-nehru |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=The Wire}}</ref> as the then [[President of India]], [[Rajendra Prasad]] himself confessed that he conferred this award to Nehru, "unconstitutionally, without any recommendation or advice from the Prime Minister or the Cabinet", for Nehru's successful visit of the European countries and the Soviet Union (a visit aimed for the promotion of peace as the Cold War was rapidly escalating) and Nehru's efforts to establish India as a major player in world affairs, which found popular support outside India.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fact Check: Did Jawaharlal Nehru Award the Bharat Ratna to Himself?|url=https://thewire.in/history/bharat-ratna-jawaharlal-nehru|access-date=2021-01-21|website=The Wire}}</ref>

Similar claims have been made with regards to Nehru's daughter [[Indira Gandhi]] who succeeded him as the third Prime Minister of India. These accusation also proved to be factually incorrect<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balasubramanian |first=Malavika |date=2019-01-15 |title=Did Nehru & Indira Gandhi Award Themselves Bharat Ratna? Uh, No |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/nehru-indira-gandhi-confer-bharat-ratna-smriti-irani-claim-fact-check |access-date=2022-05-01 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}</ref> as the then [[President of India]], [[V. V. Giri]] conferred this award to Indira Gandhi for steering India to victory in the 14-day-long [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 war]] with Pakistan over [[East Pakistan-West Pakistan War 1971|East Pakistan]] (now [[Bangladesh]]). President V. V. Giri took full responsibility for conferring the honour to Indira.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Balasubramanian|first=Malavika|date=2019-01-15|title=Did Nehru & Indira Gandhi Award Themselves Bharat Ratna? Uh, Yes|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/nehru-indira-gandhi-confer-bharat-ratna-smriti-irani-claim-fact-check|access-date=2021-01-21|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref>

However, [[Rajiv Gandhi]] was awarded Bharat Ratna, without any controversy, posthumously after he was [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|assassinated]] in 1991. It was a unanimous decision of the ruling party and the opposition.

=== Subhas Chandra Bose (1992) ===
[[File:Subhas Chandra Bose.jpg|thumb|150px|right|In 1992, a press release was published to confer the award posthumously on Bose which was later cancelled by the Supreme Court in 1997.]]

On 23 January 1992, a press release was published by the President's Secretariat to confer the award posthumously on [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]. The decision triggered much criticism and a PIL was filed in the [[Calcutta High Court]] to revoke the award.{{sfn|Basu|2010|p=132}} The petitioner took objection to the conferral of the award and its posthumous mention of Bose, saying that honouring a personality higher than the award is "ridiculous", and it was an act of "carelessness" to classify such a person with past and future recipients. It said that the award cannot be conferred to Bose posthumously as the Government had not officially accepted [[Death of Subhas Chandra Bose|his death]] on 18 August 1945. The petitioner requested the whereabouts of Bose from 18 August 1945 to date, based on the information collected by the [[Death of Subhas Chandra Bose#Shah Nawaz Committee 1956|1956 Shah Nawaz Committee]] and the [[Death of Subhas Chandra Bose#Khosla Commission 1970|1970 Khosla Commission]]. Bose's family members expressed their unwillingness to accept the award.<ref name="bosesci">{{cite web|url=http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=19960|title=Union of India Vs. Bijan Ghosh and ORS: Special Leave Petition (civil) 628 of 1994|date=4 August 1997|access-date=14 May 2014|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514235306/http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=19960|archive-date=14 May 2014}}</ref>{{sfn|Basu|2010|p=102}}

To deliver the judgement, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] formed a Special Division Bench with Judge Sujata V. Manohar and G. B. Pattanaik. The [[Solicitor General of India|Solicitor General]] noted that to confer the award per the appropriate regulations pertaining to the Bharat Ratna, [[Padma Vibhushan]], [[Padma Bhushan]], and [[Padma Shri]], the name of the recipient must be published in ''[[The Gazette of India]]'' and entered in the recipients register maintained under the direction of the President.<ref name="award1"/> It was noted that only an announcement had been made by press communiqué, but the government had not proceeded to confer the award by publishing the name in the ''Gazette'' and entering the name in the register. Furthermore, the then presidents, [[Ramaswamy Venkataraman]] (1987–92) and [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]] (1992–97), had not conferred a ''Sanad'' (certificate) with their signature and seal.<ref name="bosesci"/>

On 4 August 1997, the Supreme Court delivered an order that since the award had not been officially conferred, it cannot be revoked and declared that the press communiqué be treated as cancelled. The court declined to pass any judgement on the posthumous mention of Bose and his death.<ref name="bosesci"/><ref name=brbose>{{cite news|title=SC cancels note on Bharat Ratna for Subhash Bose|url=http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970805/21750283.html|access-date=17 November 2013|publisher=The Indian Express|location=New Delhi|work=Press Trust of India|date=5 August 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218143343/http://expressindia.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19970805/21750283.html|archive-date=18 December 2013}}</ref>

=== Civilian awards as "Titles" (1992) ===
In 1992, two PILs were filed in the High Courts; one in the [[Kerala High Court]] on 13 February 1992 by Balaji Raghavan and another in the [[Madhya Pradesh High Court]] (Indore Bench) on 24 August 1992 by Satya Pal Anand. Both petitioners questioned the civilian awards being "Titles" per an interpretation of [[s:Constitution of India/Part III|Article 18 (1)]] of the [[Constitution of India|Constitution]].{{efn|name=Article18}} On 25 August 1992, the Madhya Pradesh High Court issued a notice temporarily suspending all civilian awards.{{sfn|Edgar|2011|p=C-105}} A Special Division Bench of the Supreme Court was formed comprising five judges; A. M. Ahmadi C. J., [[Kuldip Singh (judge)|Kuldip Singh]], B. P. Jeevan Reddy, N. P. Singh, and S. Saghir Ahmad. On 15 December 1995, the Special Division Bench restored the awards and delivered a judgement that the "Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are not titles under Article 18 of the Constitution".<ref name="sci"/>

=== C. N. R. Rao and Sachin Tendulkar (2013) ===
[[File:Dhyan Chand with the ball vs. France in the 1936 Olympic semi-finals.jpg|thumb|right|[[Dhyan Chand]] at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Despite being widely regarded as the greatest [[Field Hockey|Hockey]] player of all time, Chand is yet to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.]]

Following the announcement, in November 2013, that [[C. N. R. Rao]] and [[Sachin Tendulkar]] were to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, multiple PILs were filed challenging the conferring of the award. The PIL filed against Rao declared that other Indian scientists, such as [[Homi J. Bhabha|Homi Bhabha]] and [[Vikram Sarabhai]], had contributed more than Rao and his claim of publishing 1400 research papers was "physically impossible". The suit stated that as Rao had proven cases of plagiarism, he should not be presented with the award but rather should be annulled.<ref name="Ind2D">{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pil-bharat-ratna-cnr-rao-petitioner/1/327967.html|title=PIL against Bharat Ratna to CNR Rao dismissed, petitioners warned|publisher=India Today|work=Headlines Today|date=5 December 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|location=New Delhi|author=Haque, Amir|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151508/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pil-bharat-ratna-cnr-rao-petitioner/1/327967.html|archive-date=17 May 2014}}</ref> The PIL filed against Tendulkar to the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]] under the [[Right to Information Act]] indicated that the awarding him the Bharat Ratna was a violation of the [[Election Commission of India's Model Code of Conduct|model code of conduct]]. The petitioner noted that as Tendulkar was an [[Indian National Congress]] nominated [[List of nominated members of Rajya Sabha|Member of Rajya Sabha]], the decision to award him the Bharat Ratna would influence the voters of [[Delhi]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], and [[Mizoram]] where the [[2013 elections in India|election process]] was underway at the time.<ref name="SachinRTI">{{cite news|title=RTI activist moves EC against Sachin Tendulkar getting Bharat Ratna|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/rti-activist-moves-ec-against-sachin-tendulkar-getting-bharat-ratna/434985-78.html|publisher=IBN Live|date=19 November 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|author=Sengupta, Subhajit|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219204652/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/rti-activist-moves-ec-against-sachin-tendulkar-getting-bharat-ratna/434985-78.html|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> Another PIL was filed against Tendulkar and a few ministers, alleging an apparent "conspiracy to ignore" the famed Indian field hockey player [[Dhyan Chand]].<ref name="DCBR">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/case-filed-against-bharat-ratna-award-to-tendulkar-dhyanchand/20131119.htm|title=Case filed against Bharat Ratna award to Tendulkar|work=Rediff.com|access-date=16 May 2014|date=19 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132428/http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/case-filed-against-bharat-ratna-award-to-tendulkar-dhyanchand/20131119.htm|archive-date=17 May 2014}}
* {{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-19/news/44242479_1_dhyanchand-bharat-ratna-sachin-tendulkar|title=Bharat Ratna controversy: Cases filed against Manmohan, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Sachin Tendulkar|newspaper=The Economic Times|location=Muzaffarpur|access-date=16 May 2014|date=19 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723194749/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-19/news/44242479_1_dhyanchand-bharat-ratna-sachin-tendulkar|archive-date=23 July 2014}}</ref>{{efn|name=PIL|The PIL accused the then Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], Home Minister [[Sushilkumar Shinde]], Sports Minister [[Jitendra Singh (Congress politician)|Bhanwar Jitendra Singh]] and the secretary to the union home department.}}

On 4 December 2013, the Election Commission rejected the petition stating that conferring the award on people from non-polling states did not amount to a violation of the code.<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt didn't violate model code in naming Sachin for Bharat Ratna: EC|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-didn-t-violate-model-code-in-naming-sachin-for-bharat-ratna-ec/article1-1158844.aspx|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=4 December 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|location=New Delhi|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131222103414/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-didn-t-violate-model-code-in-naming-sachin-for-bharat-ratna-ec/article1-1158844.aspx|archive-date=22 December 2013}}</ref> Other [[List of High Courts of India|High Courts]] as well rejected the petitions raised against Rao and Tendulkar.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-court-reserves-order-on-sachin-tendulkars-bharat-ratna-1924791|title=Court reserves order on Sachin Tendulkar's Bharat Ratna|date=25 November 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|location=Lucknow|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121654/http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report-court-reserves-order-on-sachin-tendulkars-bharat-ratna-1924791|archive-date=17 May 2014}}
* {{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/madras-hc-dismisses-pil-against-sachin-tendulkar-getting-bharat-ratna/437449-78.html|title=Madras HC dismisses PIL against Sachin Tendulkar getting Bharat Ratna|date=3 December 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|publisher=IBN Live|location=Chennai|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518024002/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/madras-hc-dismisses-pil-against-sachin-tendulkar-getting-bharat-ratna/437449-78.html|archive-date=18 May 2014}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-bharat-ratna-to-sachin-rao/article5418856.ece|title=HC dismisses PIL challenging Bharat Ratna to Sachin, Rao|date=4 November 2013|access-date=16 May 2014|location=Chennai|newspaper=The Hindu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120737/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-bharat-ratna-to-sachin-rao/article5418856.ece|archive-date=17 May 2014}}
</ref>

==Criticism==
In 1988, then Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] (1984–89) conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously on movie actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, [[M. G. Ramachandran]], in a bid to influence voters prior to the [[1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|Tamil Nadu assembly elections]] in 1989.{{sfn|Guha|2001|p=169}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/column-it-s-time-to-junk-the-sullied-padma-awards-1506135|title=It's time to junk the sullied Padma awards|date=11 February 2011|access-date=17 May 2014|location=Mumbai|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|author=Hattangadi, Shekhar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018003543/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/column-it-s-time-to-junk-the-sullied-padma-awards-1506135|archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> The decision was criticised for awarding Ramachandran before independence activists [[B. R. Ambedkar]] and [[Vallabhbhai Patel]], who were bestowed the honour in 1990 and 1991, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title='Politicking' over the Bharat Ratna award|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/politicking-over-the-bharat-ratna-award/article1-268981.aspx|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=13 January 2008|access-date=16 May 2014|location=New Delhi|author=Patranobis, Sutirtho|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018193017/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/politicking-over-the-bharat-ratna-award/article1-268981.aspx|archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref> While [[Ravi Shankar]] was accused of lobbying for the award,<ref name="aticon"/> the decision by Indira Gandhi to posthumously honour [[K. Kamaraj]] was considered to have been aimed at placating Tamil voters for the [[1977 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|Tamil Nadu assembly elections]] in 1977. The seventh Prime Minister [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]] was criticised for posthumously honouring B. R. Ambedkar to please the [[Dalit]]s.<ref name="outlook">{{cite journal|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?200543|title=An Honourable Judgement: A Supreme Court ruling aims to restore the sanctity of the nation's highest awards|year=1996|journal=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]|last1=Chatterjee|first1=Saibal|last2=Prakash|first2=Amit|publication-date=10 January 1996|access-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515051918/http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?200543|archive-date=15 May 2014}}</ref>{{sfn|Guha|2001|p=169}}

The posthumous conferments of the award on the recipients who died before the Indian independence in 1947 or the award was instituted in 1954 have been criticised by historians. It was noted that such conferments could lead to more demands to honour people like Maurya Emperor [[Ashoka]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bharat-ratna-shouldnt-be-given-to-dead-people-historian-guha/articleshow/45635766.cms|title=Bharat Ratna shouldn't be given to dead people: Historian Guha|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/bharat-ratna-for-vajpayee-malaviya-govt-needs-to-stop-politicising-the-reward-2014367.html|title=Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, Malaviya: Govt needs to stop politicising the reward|date=25 December 2014|access-date=8 November 2015|author=Sharma, Sandipan|newspaper=Firstpost|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126220208/http://www.firstpost.com/india/bharat-ratna-for-vajpayee-malaviya-govt-needs-to-stop-politicising-the-reward-2014367.html|archive-date=26 January 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Mughal Emperor [[Akbar]], Maratha Emperor [[Shivaji]], Nobel Laureate [[Rabindranath Tagore]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/a-bharat-ratna-for-mahatma-gandhi-734711|title=A Bharat Ratna for Mahatma Gandhi?|date=28 January 2015|access-date=8 November 2015|publisher=NDTV|author=Sopariwala, Dorab R.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029034207/http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/a-bharat-ratna-for-mahatma-gandhi-734711|archive-date=29 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Hindu spiritualist [[Swami Vivekananda]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-01-07/news/30601975_1_highest-civilian-award-bharat-ratnas-vibhushan|title=Let us not degrade country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna|date=7 January 2012|access-date=8 November 2015|author=Ramaswami, T. R.|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> and independence activist [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]].<ref name="Rediff20141224">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/column/amberish-k-diwanji-mr-modi-why-not-a-bharat-ratna-for-the-mahatma/20141224.htm|title=Mr Modi, why not a Bharat Ratna for the Mahatma?|work=Rediff.com|date=24 December 2014|access-date=8 November 2015|author=Diwanji, Amberish K.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119191548/http://www.rediff.com/news/column/amberish-k-diwanji-mr-modi-why-not-a-bharat-ratna-for-the-mahatma/20141224.htm|archive-date=19 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The then Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] (1991–96) was criticised for bestowing the award upon Vallabhbhai Patel in 1991, 41 years after his death in 1950; and upon [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] in 1992, who died in 1945.<ref name="Rediff20141224"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/netaji-stature-bigger-than-bharat-ratna/|title="Netaji stature bigger than Bharat Ratna": Kin say best way to honour him is to declassify govt files on his disappearance|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=11 August 2014|access-date=8 November 2015|location=Kolkata|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208114110/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/netaji-stature-bigger-than-bharat-ratna/|archive-date=8 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2015, the Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s decision to award [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]], who died in 1946 met with criticism.<ref name="Rediff20141224"/>

A few of the conferments have been criticised for honouring personalities only after they received global recognition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120906/jsp/nation/story_15944154.jsp|title=Bharat Ratna cry for Bose|newspaper=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|location=New Delhi|date=6 September 2012|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519100034/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120906/jsp/nation/story_15944154.jsp|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref> The award for [[Mother Teresa]] was announced in 1980, a year after she was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]. [[Satyajit Ray]] received an [[Academy Honorary Award]] in 1992 followed by the Bharat Ratna the same year.{{sfn|Guha|2001|p=170}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/link/064-24/|title= Acceptance Speeches: Satyajit Ray|access-date=18 May 2014|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609212921/http://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/link/064-24/|archive-date=9 June 2014}}</ref> In 1999, [[Amartya Sen]] was awarded the Bharat Ratna, a year after his 1998 [[Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences]]. The award was proposed by Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] to President [[K. R. Narayanan]] who agreed to the proposal.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1603/16030300.htm|title=Bharat Ratna for Amartya Sen|journal=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|publisher=The Hindu|volume=16|issue=3|date=1999|access-date=18 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519094707/http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1603/16030300.htm|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://forbesindia.com/printcontent/35855|title=Freedom of Expression: Indians are Becoming Increasingly Intolerant|journal=Forbes India Magazine|date=23 August 2013|access-date=18 May 2014|author=Tripathi, Salil|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519094021/http://forbesindia.com/printcontent/35855|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

==Popular demands==

Though, as per the statutes for the Bharat Ratna, the recommendations for the award can only be made by the Prime Minister to the President,<ref name="scheme"/> there have been several demands from various political parties to honour their leaders. In January 2008, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) leader [[L. K. Advani]] wrote to the Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] recommending Singh's predecessor [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] for the award.<ref name="pm"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080110/jsp/frontpage/story_8765534.jsp|title=Uneasy lies crown that awaits Ratna—Advani proposes Vajpayee's name, method and timing fuel murmurs|newspaper=The Telegraph (Calcutta)|location=Calcutta|date=10 January 2008|access-date=19 May 2014|author=Chatterjee, Manini|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031231/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080110/jsp/frontpage/story_8765534.jsp|archive-date=21 May 2014}}</ref> This was immediately followed by the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] lobbying for their leader, [[Jyoti Basu]], former Chief Minister of West Bengal.<ref name="cmwb"/> Basu, India's longest-serving chief minister at that time, said that he would decline the honour, even if awarded.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jyoti-basu-can-be-given-bharat-ratna-cpi-m-1144394|title=Jyoti Basu can be given Bharat Ratna: CPI (M)|date=11 January 2008|access-date=19 May 2014|location=Kolkata|newspaper=Daily News and Analysis|agency=Press Trust of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032255/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-jyoti-basu-can-be-given-bharat-ratna-cpi-m-1144394|archive-date=21 May 2014}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/13/stories/2008011350130100.htm|title=Jyoti Basu "not in the race"|agency=Press Trust of India|date=13 January 2008|access-date=19 May 2014|location=Kolkata|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331181337/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/13/stories/2008011350130100.htm|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|archive-date=31 March 2014}}
</ref> Similar demands were made by [[Telugu Desam Party]], [[Bahujan Samaj Party]], and [[Shiromani Akali Dal]] for their respective leaders [[N. T. Rama Rao]], [[Kanshi Ram]], and [[Parkash Singh Badal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/news/26456-bharat-ratna-losing-its-sanctity.html|title=Bharat Ratna losing its sanctity?|publisher=The Statesman|date=24 November 2013|access-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221105/http://www.thestatesman.net/news/26456-bharat-ratna-losing-its-sanctity.html|archive-date=20 May 2014}}</ref> In September 2015, regional political party [[Shiv Sena]] demanded the award for the independence activist [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]] stating that he had been "deliberately neglected by previous governments" but his family clarified that they are not making such demand and that the freedom fighter is known for his contribution towards independence movement and did not need an award for recognition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-09-15/news/66568740_1_bharat-ratna-sena-president-uddhav-thackeray-sena-mp|title=Shiv Sena starts drive to collect 10 lakh signatures to get Bharat Ratna for Vinayak Damodar Savarkar|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=15 September 2015|access-date=7 November 2015}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/shiv-sena-demands-bharat-ratna-for-veer-savarkar/16534152|title=Shiv Sena demands Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar|newspaper=Mid-Day|agency=Press Trust of India|date=14 September 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|location=New Delhi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926065901/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/shiv-sena-demands-bharat-ratna-for-veer-savarkar/16534152|archive-date=26 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}
*{{cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/savarkar-doesnt-need-an-award-for-recognition-says-grand-nephew/|title=Savarkar doesn't need an award for recognition, says grand-nephew|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 November 2015|location=Mumbai|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019223415/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/savarkar-doesnt-need-an-award-for-recognition-says-grand-nephew/|archive-date=19 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Per the original statutes, sportspersons were not eligible for the Bharat Ratna; however, a revision of the rules in December 2011 made eligible "any field of human endeavour".<ref name="sports"/> Subsequently, several sportspersons' names were discussed; among the most talked-about of these were field-hockey player [[Dhyan Chand]] and former world chess champion [[Viswanathan Anand]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/former-olympians-fans-hold-rally-demanding-bharat-ratna-for-dhyan-chand-hockey/1/335126.html|title=Fans hold rally demanding Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand|magazine=India Today|date=8 January 2014|access-date=19 May 2014|location=New Delhi|author=Ray, Suman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009044735/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/former-olympians-fans-hold-rally-demanding-bharat-ratna-for-dhyan-chand-hockey/1/335126.html|archive-date=9 October 2014}}</ref> In 2011, 82 members of parliament recommended Chand's name for the award to the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]. In January 2012, the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]] forwarded his name again, this time along with [[2008 Summer Olympics]] [[Shooting at the 2008 Summer Olympics&nbsp;– Men's 10 metre air rifle|gold medallist]] shooter [[Abhinav Bindra]] and mountaineer [[Tenzing Norgay]].<ref name="dc1">{{cite news|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/hockey/211058-dhyan-chand-not-sachin-tendulkar-is-sports-ministrys-choice-for-bharat-ratna|title=Dhyan Chand, not Sachin Tendulkar, is Sports Ministry's choice for Bharat Ratna|publisher=NDTV Sports|date=19 July 2013|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=19 May 2014|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722125049/http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/hockey/211058-dhyan-chand-not-sachin-tendulkar-is-sports-ministrys-choice-for-bharat-ratna|archive-date=22 July 2013}}</ref> Bindra had earlier been recommended for the award in May 2013 by the [[National Rifle Association of India]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/othersports/207727-national-rifle-association-of-india-recommends-abhinav-bindra-for-bharat-ratna|title=National Rifle Association of India recommends Abhinav Bindra for Bharat Ratna|publisher=NDTV Sports|date=13 May 2013|agency=Press Trust of India|access-date=19 May 2014|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020171218/http://sports.ndtv.com/shooting/news/207727-national-rifle-association-of-india-recommends-abhinav-bindra-for-bharat-ratna|archive-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> In July 2013, the ministry again recommended Dhyan Chand.<ref name="dc1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/Sports-ministry-recommended-Dhyan-Chand-for-Bharat-Ratna/articleshow/30352166.cms|title=Sports ministry recommended Dhyan Chand for Bharat Ratna|newspaper=The Times of India|author=Shukla, Neha|date=13 February 2014|access-date=19 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020172853/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/hockey/top-stories/Sports-ministry-recommended-Dhyan-Chand-for-Bharat-Ratna/articleshow/30352166.cms|archive-date=20 October 2014}}</ref> However, in November 2013, cricketer [[Sachin Tendulkar]] became the first sports-person to receive the honour and this garnered much criticism for the government.<ref name="sachin"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/i-have-no-hope-of-bharat-ratna-for-dhyan-chand-now-ashok-kumar/15070023|title=I have no hope of Bharat Ratna for Dhyan Chand now: Ashok Kumar|newspaper=Mid Day|date=5 February 2014|access-date=22 August 2015|location=Mumbai|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912063552/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/i-have-no-hope-of-bharat-ratna-for-dhyan-chand-now-ashok-kumar/15070023|archive-date=12 September 2014|author=Ferro, Ashwin}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/the-govt-should-do-away-with-the-concept-of-bharat-ratna-shivanand-tiwari-manu-shankar/20131119.htm|title=Dhyan Chand deserved Bharat Ratna more than Sachin|work=Rediff.com|access-date=19 May 2014|date=19 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220959/http://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/the-govt-should-do-away-with-the-concept-of-bharat-ratna-shivanand-tiwari-manu-shankar/20131119.htm|archive-date=20 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/sachin%20tendulkar%20retires/bharat-ratna-if-sachin-tendulkar-deserves-it-then-why-not-dhyan-chand_773295.html|title=Bharat Ratna: If Sachin Tendulkar deserves it then why not Dhyan Chand?|publisher=Zee News|access-date=19 May 2014|date=18 November 2013|author=Nagpal, Deepak|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822124437/http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/sachin%20tendulkar%20retires/bharat-ratna-if-sachin-tendulkar-deserves-it-then-why-not-dhyan-chand_773295.html|archive-date=22 August 2015}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.firstpost.com/blogs/just-not-cricket-why-did-sachin-get-bharat-ratna-before-dhyan-chand-1234809.html|title=Just not cricket: Why did Sachin get Bharat Ratna before Dhyan Chand?|work=Firstpost|access-date=19 May 2014|date=17 November 2013|author=Mazoomdaar, Jay|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621025934/http://www.firstpost.com/blogs/just-not-cricket-why-did-sachin-get-bharat-ratna-before-dhyan-chand-1234809.html|archive-date=21 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}
</ref>

A PIL was filed in the [[Karnataka High Court]] where in the petitioner requested the court to issue a direction to the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] to consider their representation dated 26 October 2012 and confer the Bharat Ratna upon [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. On 27 January 2014, a counsel appearing for the petitioner noted that after multiple representations from the petitioner, they were provided with the information under [[Right to Information Act, 2005|RTI]] that the recommendations to confer the award on Gandhi have been received multiple times in the past and were forwarded to the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]]. A [[Division bench]] comprising [[Chief Justice of India|Chief Justice]] D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna dismissed the petition stating that the subject is not amenable to any adjudication process and the nominations and conferment process is stated to be informal and in the discretion of the highest authority in the Government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/bharat-ratna-for-mahatma-gandhi/article5623953.ece|title=Bharat Ratna for Mahatma Gandhi?|date=28 January 2014|access-date=7 November 2015|location=Bangalore|newspaper=The Hindu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516150846/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/bharat-ratna-for-mahatma-gandhi/article5623953.ece|archive-date=16 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=MGBR>{{cite web|url=http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgments/bitstream/123456789/921146/1/WP3149-14-27-01-2014.pdf|title=Union of India Vs. Manjunath|date=27 January 2014|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=High Court of Karnataka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107160359/http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgments/bitstream/123456789/921146/1/WP3149-14-27-01-2014.pdf|archive-date=7 November 2015}}
* {{cite web|url=http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgments/handle/123456789/921146?mode=full&submit_simple=Show+full+item+record|title=High Court of Karnataka: WP 3149/2014|date=27 January 2014|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=High Court of Karnataka|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624040914/http://judgmenthck.kar.nic.in/judgments/handle/123456789/921146?mode=full&submit_simple=Show+full+item+record|archive-date=24 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==List of recipients==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Key
|-
|{{legend|#E9D4C9| + [[Indian nationality law#Citizenship by naturalisation|Naturalised citizen]] recipient|outline=orange|border=1px solid red}}
|{{legend|#FFECC8| {{asterisk}} Non-citizen recipient|outline=orange|border=1px solid orange}}
|{{legend|#CEE8F0| {{Hash}} Posthumous recipient|outline=blue|border=1px solid blue}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%"
|+List of laureates awarded the Bharat Ratna<ref name="recp54-15">{{cite web |title=List of recipients of Bharat Ratna (1954–2019) |url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/ListofBRrecepients_09082019.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220613021535/https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/ListofBRrecepients_09082019.pdf |archive-date=13 June 2022 |access-date=13 June 2022 |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs (India) |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3%" | Year
! scope="col" style="width:7%"| Image
! scope="col" style="width:15%"| Laureates
! scope="col" style="width:12%" |State / Country
! scope="col" style="width:13%" | Prime Minister / Party in Power
! scope="col" style="width:50%" | Notes
|-
|align="center" rowspan=3|1954
|align="center" style="width:1%"|[[File:Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari 1973 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
!scope="row"|[[C. Rajagopalachari]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|rowspan=13|[[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Indian National Congress]]
|Known as the "Mootharignar" ("Scholar Emeritus"), Rajagopalachari was the [[Governor-General of India]] (1948–50). He was the [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|home minister]] in [[Nehru]]'s [[First Nehru ministry|first cabinet]]. Rajaji was the first [[governor of West Bengal]]. He also served as the [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] for over two years, between 1952 and 1954. He is the founder of the Indian political party [[Swatantra Party]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chakravarti-Rajagopalachari|title=Profile: Chakravarti Rajagopalachari|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310113807/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chakravarti-Rajagopalachari|archive-date=10 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov.in/tnassembly/cmlist-1920.htm|title=Government of Tamil Nadu: Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu since 192|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=12 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423150027/http://www.tn.gov.in/tnassembly/cmlist-1920.htm|archive-date=23 April 2013}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Sarvepalli_Radhakrishnan_1967_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| Philosopher Radhakrishnan served as India's first [[List of Vice Presidents of India|Vice-President]] (1952–62) and second [[List of Presidents of India|President]] (1962–67).<ref name="president">{{cite web|url=http://presidentofindia.nic.in/former-presidents.htm|title=Former President of India|publisher=The President's Secretariat|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016060850/http://presidentofindia.nic.in/former-presidents.htm|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="vicepresident">{{cite web|url=http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/former.asp|title=Former Vice President of India|publisher=The Vice President's Secretariat|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017115825/http://vicepresidentofindia.nic.in/former.asp|archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref> Since 1962, his birthday on 5 September is observed as "[[Teachers' Day]]" in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f2808981.html|title=Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: The Philosopher President|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB)|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828144109/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f2808981.html|archive-date=28 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:CV_Raman_2009_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[C. V. Raman]]
| [[Tamil Nadu]]
| Widely known for his work on the scattering of light and the discovery of the effect, better known as "[[Raman scattering]]", Raman mainly worked in the field of [[atomic physics]] and [[electromagnetism]] and was presented [[List of Nobel laureates in Physics|Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1930.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Nobel Prize in Physics 1930|publisher=Nobel Foundation|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1930/index.html|access-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011205133/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1930/index.html|archive-date=11 October 2014}}
* {{cite web|title=Sir Venkata Raman Facts|publisher=Nobel Foundation|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1930/raman-facts.html|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917083216/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1930/raman-facts.html|archive-date=17 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 1955
| align="center" | [[File:Bhagwan Das 1969 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Bhagwan Das]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Independence activist, philosopher, and educationist, Das is a co-founder of [[Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith]] and worked with [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]] for the foundation of [[Banaras Hindu University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us—Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith Varanasi|url=http://mgkvp.ac.in/history1.htm|publisher=Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith|access-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626084206/http://mgkvp.ac.in/history1.htm|archive-date=26 June 2014}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/varanasi-the-city-of-bharat-ratnas-721172|title=Varanasi: The City of Bharat Ratnas|publisher=NDTV|date=1 January 2015|access-date=12 September 2015|author=Masih, Niha|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003154757/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/varanasi-the-city-of-bharat-ratnas-721172|archive-date=3 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Mokshagundam_Visvesvaraiah_1960_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[M. Visvesvaraya]]
|[[Karnataka]]
| Civil engineer, statesman, and [[Diwan of Mysore]] (1912–18), Visvesvaraya was a [[Order of the Indian Empire|Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]. His birthday, 15 September, is observed as "[[Engineer's Day]]" in India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Engineer's Day in India: celebrating M. Visvesvaraya's birthday|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/engineers-day-in-india-celebrating-m-visvesvarayas-birthday-507944.html|publisher=IBN Live|date=15 September 2012|access-date=12 September 2015|location=New Delhi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916194050/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/engineers-day-in-india-celebrating-m-visvesvarayas-birthday-507944.html|archive-date=16 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news|title=The Architect of India's Nuclear Programme|url=http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/dream/feb2000/article1.htm|publisher=Vigyan Prasar|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604111903/http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/dream/feb2000/article1.htm|archive-date=4 June 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2008 - Colnect 139933 - Jawaharlal Nehru.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Independence activist and author, Nehru is the first and the longest-serving Prime Minister of India (1947–64). Nehru himself was Prime Minister of India at the time of the receiving award.<ref name="pm">{{cite web|url=http://pmindia.gov.in/en/former-prime-ministers/|title=Prime Ministers of India|publisher=Prime Minister's Office (India)|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009232119/http://pmindia.gov.in/en/former-prime-ministers/|archive-date=9 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140111/jsp/opinion/story_17764652.jsp|title=Leave it to history: India's best and worst prime ministerse|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=Calcutta|access-date=12 September 2015|date=11 January 2014|author=Guha, Ramachandra|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123226/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140111/jsp/opinion/story_17764652.jsp|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1957
| align="center" | [[File:Govind_Ballabh_Pant_1988_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Govind Ballabh Pant]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Independence activist Pant was premier of [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]] (1937–39, 1946–50) and first [[List of Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh|Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]] (1950–54). He served as [[Minister of Home Affairs (India)|Union Home Minister]] from 1955 to 1961.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh|publisher=Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|url=http://uplegisassembly.gov.in/CHIEF%20MINISTERS.HTM|access-date=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721050934/http://uplegisassembly.gov.in/CHIEF%20MINISTERS.HTM|archive-date=21 July 2014}}
* {{cite news|title=Nation pays homage to Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant on his 127th birth anniversary|newspaper=Business Standard|date=10 September 2014|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nation-pays-homage-to-pandit-govind-ballabh-pant-on-his-127th-birth-anniversary-114091000642_1.html|access-date=12 September 2015|location=New Delhi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305164128/http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nation-pays-homage-to-pandit-govind-ballabh-pant-on-his-127th-birth-anniversary-114091000642_1.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1958
| align="center" | [[File:Dhondo Keshav Karve 1958 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Dhondo Keshav Karve]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Social reformer and educator, Karve is widely known for his works related to woman education and remarriage of Hindu widows. He established the Widow Marriage Association (1883), Hindu Widows Home (1896), and started [[SNDT Women's University|Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University]] in 1916.<ref name=Karve/>{{sfn|Osnes|2013|p=104}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1961
| align="center" | [[File:Bidhan Chandra Roy 1982 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Bidhan Chandra Roy]]
|[[West Bengal]]
| A physician, political leader, philanthropist, educationist, and social worker, Roy is often considered as "Maker of Modern West Bengal".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-doctor-par-excellence/article2153732.ece|title=A doctor par excellence|newspaper=The Hindu|date=3 July 2011|access-date=12 September 2015|author=Kalra, R.N.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912170057/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/a-doctor-par-excellence/article2153732.ece|archive-date=12 September 2015}}</ref> He was second [[List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]] (1948–62) and his birthday on 1 July is observed as [[National Doctors' Day#India|National Doctors' Day]] in India.<ref name="cmwb">{{cite web|url=http://wbassembly.gov.in/html/permiChMin.html|title=Premiers/Chief Ministers of West Bengal|publisher=West Bengal Legislative Assembly|access-date=10 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512213639/http://wbassembly.gov.in/html/permiChMin.html|archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Purushottam Das Tandon 1982 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Purushottam Das Tandon]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Often titled as "Rajarshi", Tandon was an independence activist and served as speaker of the [[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly]] (1937–50). He was actively involved in a campaign to get [[Languages with official status in India|official language status]] to [[Hindi]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Purushottam-Das-Tandon|title=Profile: Purushottam Das Tandon|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919155326/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Purushottam-Das-Tandon|archive-date=19 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
|-
| align="center" | 1962
| align="center" | [[File:Rajendra Prasad 2015 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Rajendra Prasad]]
|[[Bihar]]
| Independence activist, lawyer, statesman, and scholar,{{sfn|Weber|2004|p=138}} Prasad was closely associated with [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in the [[non-cooperation movement]] for Indian independence.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rajendra-Prasad|title=Profile: Rajendra Prasad|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=12 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909055336/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rajendra-Prasad|archive-date=9 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}} He was later elected as the first President of India (1950–62).<ref name="president"/>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1963
| align="center" | [[File:President_Zakir_Husain_1998_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Zakir Husain (politician)|Zakir Husain]]
|[[Andhra Pradesh]]
| Independence activist and education philosopher, Husain served as a Vice Chancellor of [[Aligarh Muslim University]] (1948–56) and the [[List of Governors of Bihar|Governor of Bihar]] (1957–62).{{sfn|Taneja|2000|p=167}} Later, he was elected as second vice-president of India (1962–67) and went on to become the third President of India (1967–69).<ref name="president"/><ref name="vicepresident"/>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Pandurang Vaman Kane 2022 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Pandurang Vaman Kane]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Indologist and Sanskrit scholar,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mu.ac.in/portal/alumni/|title=Mumbai University Alumni|publisher=University of Mumbai|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904113944/http://mu.ac.in/portal/alumni/|archive-date=4 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Kane is best known for his five volume literary work, [[History of Dharmaśāstra|History of Dharmaśāstra: Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law in India]]; the "monumental" work that extends over nearly 6,500 pages and being published from 1930 to 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ignca.nic.in/nl003109.htm|title=From the Bookshelves of IGNCA: Texts on Dharmashastra wellspring of Indian code for life|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre of the Arts|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102331/http://ignca.nic.in/nl003109.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1966
| align="center" | [[File:Lal Bahadur Shastri 1966 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]]{{efn-lr|Lal Bahadur Shastri died on 11 January 1966, at the age of 61.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Indira Gandhi]],<br> [[Indian National Congress]]
| Known for his slogan "[[Jai Jawan Jai Kisan]]" ("Hail to the Soldier, hail to the Farmer"),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/gpmi.html|title=Gallery of Prime Ministers of India|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB)|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804040142/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/others/gpmi.html|archive-date=4 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> independence activist Shastri served as second Prime Minister of India (1964–66) and led the country during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]].<ref name="pm"/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lal-Bahadur-Shastri|title=Profile: Lal Bahadur Shastri|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906033024/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lal-Bahadur-Shastri|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
|-
| align="center" | 1971
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2008 - Colnect 139939 - Indira Gandhi.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Indira Gandhi]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Known as the "Iron Lady of India",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/11/18/indira-gandhi-iron-lady-india|title=Indira Gandhi: Iron Lady of India|author=Thelikorala, Sulakshi|newspaper=Asian Tribune|publisher=World Institute For Asian Studies|date=18 November 2011|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101041543/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/11/18/indira-gandhi-iron-lady-india|archive-date=1 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India during 1966–77 and 1980–84.<ref name="pm"/> During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], her government supported the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] which led to the formation of a new country, [[Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Indira-Gandhi|title=Profile: Indira Gandhi|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905092126/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Indira-Gandhi|archive-date=5 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}} Gandhi herself was Prime Minister of India at the time of receiving the award.
|-
| align="center" | 1975
| align="center" | [[File:VV_Giri_1974_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[V. V. Giri]]
| [[Odisha]]
| While studying at the [[University College Dublin]], Giri was involved in the Irish [[History of Sinn Féin|Sinn Féin movement]]. Returning to India, he organised trade unions and brought them to take active participation in Indian freedom struggle. Post-independence, Giri held positions of Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Mysore and various other cabinet ministries. He became the first acting president and was eventually elected as the fourth President of India (1969–74).<ref name="president"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6HAeAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA240|title=Historical Dictionary of India|pages=240|author=Mansingh, Surjit|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8108-6502-0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228183849/https://books.google.com/books?id=6HAeAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA240|archive-date=28 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Dubey|first=Scharada|author-link=Scharada Dubey|title=First among equals President of India|year=2009|publisher=Westland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ToBFJZiRsxMC&pg=PA37|isbn=978-81-89975-53-1|pages=37–44|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707073933/http://books.google.com/books?id=ToBFJZiRsxMC&pg=PA37|archive-date=7 July 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
|align="center"|1976
|align="center"|[[File:K Kamaraj 1976 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;"|[[K. Kamaraj]]{{efn-lr|K. Kamaraj died on 2 October 1975, at the age of 72.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|Known as the "King Maker", for being instrumental in making [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] the [[prime minister of India]] after [[Nehru]]'s death and [[Indira Gandhi]] after Shastri's death. He was the [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] for over nine years, between 1954 and 1963. He is the founder of the Indian political party, the [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]].<ref name="tncm">{{cite web|url=http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/list/assemblies-overview.htm|title=Details of terms of successive legislative assemblies constituted under the constitution of India|publisher=Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|access-date=10 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083126/http://www.assembly.tn.gov.in/archive/list/assemblies-overview.htm|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kumaraswami-Kamaraj|title=Profile: Kumaraswami Kamaraj|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906011133/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kumaraswami-Kamaraj|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1980
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2016 - Colnect 661450 - Mother Teresa.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#E9D4C9;" | [[Mother Teresa]] {{sup|+}} 
| [[West Bengal]] <br> {{small|(Born in [[Skopje]],<br>now [[North Macedonia]])}}
| "Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta" was a catholic nun and the founder of the [[Missionaries of Charity]], a Roman Catholic religious congregation, Which manages homes for people who are dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. She was awarded the [[List of Nobel Peace Prize laureates|Nobel Peace Prize]] for her humanitarian work in 1979 and was [[Beatification|beatified]] on 19 October 2003 by [[Pope John Paul II]] and [[Canonization|canonised]] on 4 September 2016 by [[Pope Francis]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mother-Teresa|title=Profile: Blessed Mother Teresa|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906044928/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mother-Teresa|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html|title=Mother Teresa—Biographical|publisher=Nobel Foundation|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011210335/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/teresa-bio.html|archive-date=11 October 2014}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/index.html|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1979|publisher=Nobel Foundation|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016093455/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1979/index.html|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1983
| align="center" | [[File:Vinoba_Bhave_1983_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Vinoba Bhave]]{{efn-lr|Vinoba Bhave died on 15 November 1982, at the age of 87.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Independence activist, social reformer, and a close associate of [[Mahatma Gandhi]],<br> Bhave is best known for his [[Bhoodan movement]], "Land-Gift Movement".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vinoba-Bhave|title=Profile: Vinoba Bhave|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906041532/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vinoba-Bhave|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}} He was given the honorific title "Acharya" ("teacher") and was awarded the [[List of Ramon Magsaysay Award winners|Ramon Magsaysay Award]] (1958) for his humanitarian work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/filter/8/b/all/all/0/1|title=Ramon Magsaysay Award winners|publisher=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223151/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/filter/8/b/all/all/0/1|archive-date=12 May 2014}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 1987
| align="center" | [[File:Abdul Ghaffar Khan 1993 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#FFECC8;" | [[Abdul Ghaffar Khan]]{{sup|{{asterisk}}}}
| [[Pakistan]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Rajiv Gandhi]],<br> [[Indian National Congress]]
| Widely known as "Frontier Gandhi", independence activist and Pashtun leader Khan was a follower of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. He joined [[Khilafat Movement]] in 1920 and founded [[Khudai Khidmatgar]] ("Red Shirt movement") in 1929.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Khan-Abdul-Ghaffar-Khan|title=Profile: Abdul Ghaffar Khan|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918183329/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Khan-Abdul-Ghaffar-Khan|archive-date=18 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
|-
|align="center"|1988
|align="center"|[[File:MG Ramachandran 2017 stamp of India.jpg|100px]] 
!scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;"|[[M. G. Ramachandran]]{{efn-lr|M. G. Ramachandran died on 24 December 1987, at the age of 70.}}{{efn|name=MGR|In 1960, Ramachandran was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award, but declined as the invitation was written in the [[Devanagari]] script and not [[Tamil script|Tamil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/feb/01/slide-show-1-the-checkered-history-of-our-national-honours.htm|title=The chequered history of our national honours|work=Rediff.com|date=1 February 2010|access-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518002156/http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/feb/01/slide-show-1-the-checkered-history-of-our-national-honours.htm|archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref>}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
|Known as the "Puratchi Thalaivar" ("Revolutionary Leader"), actor-turned-politician Ramachandran was the first actor to become the chief minister of the state in the history of India. He was the [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] for over ten years, between 1977 and 1987. He is the founder of the Indian political party, [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].<ref name="tncm"/>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1990
| align="center" | [[File:Ambedkar 1966 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[B. R. Ambedkar]]{{efn-lr|B. R. Ambedkar died on 6 December 1956, at the age of 65.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Maharashtra]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Vishwanath Pratap Singh]], [[Bharatiya Janta Party]], [[Janata Dal]] ([[National Front (India)|NF]])
| Social reformer and leader of the [[Dalit]]s,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bhimrao-Ramji-Ambedkar|title=Profile: Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907132631/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bhimrao-Ramji-Ambedkar|archive-date=7 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}} Ambedkar headed the committee drafting the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]] and also served as the first [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)#Law Ministers of India|Law Minister]] of India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Some Facts of Constituent Assembly|work=Parliament of India|publisher=National Informatics Centre|url=http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/facts.htm|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511104514/http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/debates/facts.htm|archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> Ambedkar predominantly campaigned against the social discrimination with Dalits, the [[caste system in India|caste system]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/lets-help-realise-the-vision-of-ambedkar-for-dalits/article4614717.ece|title=Let's help realise the vision of Ambedkar for Dalits|date=14 April 2013|access-date=7 November 2015|author=Jain, Anurodh Lalit|newspaper=The Hindu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214232235/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/lets-help-realise-the-vision-of-ambedkar-for-dalits/article4614717.ece|archive-date=14 December 2016|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/untouchability-the-dead-cow-and-the-brahmin/217660|title=Untouchability, The Dead Cow And The Brahmin|date=22 October 2002|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=Outlook|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109222842/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/untouchability-the-dead-cow-and-the-brahmin/217660|archive-date=9 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was associated with the [[Dalit Buddhist movement]] and accepted [[Buddhism]] as a religion along with his close to half a million followers on 14 October 1956.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-article-from-ananya-vajpeyi-owning-ambedkar-sans-his-views/article7583272.ece|title=Owning Ambedkar sans his views|date=27 August 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|author=Vajpeyi, Ananya|newspaper=The Hindu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107050620/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/comment-article-from-ananya-vajpeyi-owning-ambedkar-sans-his-views/article7583272.ece|archive-date=7 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-gautam-buddha-s-ashes-to-travel-from-sri-lanka-to-maharashtra-next-week-2132594|title=Gautam Buddha's ashes to travel from Sri Lanka to Maharashtra next week|date=8 October 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|publisher=Daily News Analysis|author=Srivastava, Kanchan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020201943/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-gautam-buddha-s-ashes-to-travel-from-sri-lanka-to-maharashtra-next-week-2132594|archive-date=20 October 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2018 - Colnect 802165 - Nelson Mandela.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#FFECC8;" | [[Nelson Mandela]]{{sup|{{asterisk}}}}
|[[South Africa]]
| Leader of the [[Anti-Apartheid Movement]] in South Africa, Mandela was the President of South Africa (1994–99).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nelson-Mandela|title=Profile: Nelson Mandela|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905092959/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nelson-Mandela|archive-date=5 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}} Often called as the "Gandhi of South Africa",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131206/news-current-affairs/article/nelson-mandela-gandhi-south-africa-had-strong-indian-connections|title=Nelson Mandela, the 'Gandhi of South Africa', had strong Indian connections|date=7 December 2013|access-date=7 November 2015|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle|agency=Press Trust of India|location=Johannesburg|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305075848/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131206/news-current-affairs/article/nelson-mandela-gandhi-south-africa-had-strong-indian-connections|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Mandela's [[African National Congress]] movement was influenced by [[Gandhism|Gandhian philosophy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=4089 |title=Nelson Mandela's speech at unveiling of Gandhi Memorial |author=Mandela, Nelson |date=6 June 1993 |access-date=7 November 2015 |location=Pietermaritzburg |publisher=African National Congress |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908033209/http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=4089 |archive-date=8 September 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> In 1993, he was awarded the [[List of Nobel Peace Prize laureates|Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/mandela-bio.html|title=Nelson Mandela—Biographical|publisher=Nobel Foundation|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017183711/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/mandela-bio.html|archive-date=17 October 2014}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/index.html|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 1993|publisher=Nobel Foundation|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016094235/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1993/index.html|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 1991
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2008 - Colnect 139940 - Rajiv Gandhi.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Rajiv Gandhi]]{{efn-lr|Rajiv Gandhi died on 21 May 1991, at the age of 46.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| rowspan="6" |[[P. V. Narasimha Rao]], [[Indian National Congress]]
| Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India serving from 1984 to 1989.<ref name="pm"/>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Vallabhbhai Patel 1975 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Vallabhbhai Patel]]{{efn-lr|Vallabhbhai Patel died on 15 December 1950, at the age of 75.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Gujarat]]
| Widely known as the "Iron Man of India",<ref>{{cite news|title=PM Modi pays tributes to Sardar Patel on his death anniversary|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-sardar-patel-on-his-death-anniversary-731284.html|publisher=IBN Live|date=15 December 2014|access-date=13 September 2015|location=New Delhi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226114334/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/pm-modi-pays-tributes-to-sardar-patel-on-his-death-anniversary-731284.html|archive-date=26 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Patel was an independence activist and first [[Deputy Prime Minister of India]] (1947–50). Post independence, "Sardar" ("Leader") Patel worked with [[V. P. Menon]] towards dissolving 555 [[princely states]] into the Indian union.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/patels-communalisma-documented-record/article23559347.ece|title=Patel's communalism—a documented record|publisher=Frontline|date=13 December 2013|access-date=6 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105021346/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/patels-communalisma-documented-record/article23559347.ece|archive-date=5 November 2021|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe1098/f1510981.html|title=Sardar Patel: Builder of a Steel Strong India|publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=6 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105020725/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe1098/f1510981.html|archive-date=5 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/who-betrayed-sardar-patel/article5366083.ece|title=Who betrayed Sardar Patel?|newspaper=The Hindu|date=19 November 2013|access-date=6 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808235331/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/who-betrayed-sardar-patel/article5366083.ece|archive-date=8 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}
</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vallabhbhai-Jhaverbhai-Patel|title=Profile: Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=11 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102014630/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vallabhbhai-Jhaverbhai-Patel|archive-date=2 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Morarji_Desai_1997_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Morarji Desai]]{{efn|name=Desai|Desai had earlier abolished the awards while he was in the office of Prime Minister for it being "worthless and politicised".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/The-great-Bharat-Ratna-race/articleshow/2714556.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140517172013/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/The-great-Bharat-Ratna-race/articleshow/2714556.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 May 2014|title=The great Bharat Ratna race|newspaper=The Times of India|date=20 January 2008|access-date=17 May 2014|author=Mukul, Akshaya}}</ref>|group=}}
|[[Gujarat]]
| Independence activist Desai was the fourth Prime Minister of India (1977–79).<ref name="pm"/> He is the only Indian national to be awarded the [[Nishan-e-Pakistan]], highest civilian award given by the [[Government of Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/11spec.htm|title=When India and Pakistan almost made peace|date=11 July 2001|access-date=13 September 2015|author=Bhatia, Shyam|work=Rediff.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710140448/http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jul/11spec.htm|archive-date=10 July 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was also the first [[Prime Minister of India]] not to be from the [[Indian National Congress]].
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 1992
| align="center" | [[File:Maulana_Abul_Kalam_Azad_1988_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Abul Kalam Azad]]{{efn-lr|Abul Kalam Azad died on 22 February 1958, at the age of 69.}}{{efn|name=Azad|Earlier, Abul Kalam Azad had refused the Bharat Ratna while he was the [[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Education Minister]] of India (1947–58) citing that the selection committee members should not themselves be the recipients.<ref name="aticon">{{cite web|title=India's top award misses congeniality|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA24Df01.html|newspaper=Asia Times Online|author=Ramachandran, Sudha|location=Bangalore|date=24 January 2008|access-date=14 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141016085705/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA24Df01.html|archive-date=16 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/Those-who-said-no-to-top-awards/articleshow/2714615.cms|title=Those who said no to top awards|newspaper=The Times of India|date=20 January 2008|access-date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124063906/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/specials/Those-who-said-no-to-top-awards/articleshow/2714615.cms|archive-date=24 November 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrm.mhrd.gov.in/ministers|title=List of former Ministers in charge of Education/HRD|publisher=[[Ministry of Human Resource Development (India)|Ministry of Human Resource Development]]|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018042458/http://hrm.mhrd.gov.in/ministers|archive-date=18 October 2014}}</ref>}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[West Bengal]]
| Independence activist Azad was India's first Minister of Education and worked towards free primary education. He was widely known as "Maulana Azad" and his birthday on 11 November is observed as [[National Education Day (India)|National Education Day]] in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/national-education-day-celebrated/article2627310.ece|title=National Education Day celebrated|newspaper=The Hindu|date=14 November 2011|access-date=11 October 2015|location=Krishnagiri|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325010312/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/national-education-day-celebrated/article2627310.ece|archive-date=25 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite news|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101107/spectrum/main4.htm|title=Visionary educationist|newspaper=The Tribune|date=7 November 2010|access-date=11 October 2015|author=Sharma, Arun Kumar|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082928/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101107/spectrum/main4.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:JRD_Tata_1994_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[J. R. D. Tata]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Industrialist, philanthropist, and aviation pioneer, Tata founded India's first airline [[Air India]]. He is the founder of various institutes including [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]], [[Tata Memorial Hospital]], [[Tata Institute of Social Sciences]], [[Tata Motors]], [[Tata Consultancy Services|TCS]], [[National Institute of Advanced Studies]], and [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)|National Centre for the Performing Arts]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-R-D-Tata|title=Profile: J.R.D. Tata|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=13 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150641/https://www.britannica.com/biography/J-R-D-Tata|archive-date=24 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
* {{cite book|last1=Shah|first1=Shashank|last2=Ramamoorthy|first2=V.E.|title=Soulful Corporations: A Values-Based Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_u7BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA149|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|year=2013|isbn=978-81-322-1275-1|page=149|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228183849/https://books.google.com/books?id=1_u7BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA149|archive-date=28 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2009 - Colnect 139937 - Satyajit Ray.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Satyajit Ray]]
|[[West Bengal]]
| Having debuted as a director with ''[[Pather Panchali]]'' (1955),{{sfn|Gulzar|Nihalani|Chatterjee|2003|p=612}} film-maker Ray is credited with bringing world recognition to [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sight and Sound Poll 1992: Critics|publisher=California Institute of Technology|url=http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ejohnson/sight/1992_1.html|access-date=3 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016212355/http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ejohnson/sight/1992_1.html|archive-date=16 October 2013}}
* {{cite web|title=A Slanted Canon|author=Kevin Lee|publisher=Asian American Film Commentary|date=5 September 2002|url=http://www.asianamericanfilm.com/archives/000026.html|access-date=3 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/684ysTg3l?url=http://www.asianamericanfilm.com/archives/000026.html|archive-date=31 May 2012|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|title=Greatest Film Directors and Their Best Films|publisher=Filmsite.org|url=http://www.filmsite.org/directors5.html|access-date=3 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331180201/http://www.filmsite.org/directors5.html|archive-date=31 March 2014}}
* {{cite web|title=The Greatest Directors Ever by ''Total Film'' Magazine|publisher=Filmsite.org|url=http://www.filmsite.org/greatdirectors-totalfilm2.html|access-date=3 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426215114/http://www.filmsite.org/greatdirectors-totalfilm2.html|archive-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> In 1984, Ray was awarded the [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]], India's highest award in cinema.<ref name="dadasahebdff">{{cite web|title=Dadasaheb Phalke Awards|url=http://dff.nic.in/dadasahebphalke.asp|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=6 May 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526044918/http://www.dff.nic.in/dadasahebphalke.asp|archive-date=26 May 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In [[64th Academy Awards|1991]], he received [[Academy Honorary Award]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Satyajit Ray: The Lesser-known Facts About the First Indian to Win Honorary Oscar |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/satyajit-ray-the-lesser-known-facts-about-the-first-indian-to-win-honorary-oscar-2113197.html |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=News18 |date=23 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3" | 1997
| align="center" | [[File:Gulzarilal_Nanda_1999_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Gulzarilal Nanda]]
|[[Punjab, India|Punjab]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Inder Kumar Gujral]], [[Janata Dal]] ([[United Front (India)|UF]])
| Independence activist Nanda was two times interim Prime Minister of India (1964, 1966) and two times deputy chairman of the [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]].<ref name="pm"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/15nan.htm|title=Former PM Gulzarilal Nanda dead|work=Rediff.com|access-date=14 September 2015|date=15 January 1998|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052853/http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/15nan.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Aruna Asaf Ali 1998 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Aruna Asaf Ali]]{{efn-lr|Aruna Asaf Ali died on 29 July 1996, at the age of 87.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[West Bengal]]
| Independence activist Ali is better known for hoisting the Indian flag in Bombay during the [[Quit India Movement]] in 1942. Post Independence, Ali was elected as Delhi's first mayor in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-aruna-asaf-ali-1331351.html|title=Obituary: Aruna Asaf Ali|newspaper=The Independent|author=Singh, Kuldeep|date=31 July 1996|access-date=14 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925133653/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-aruna-asaf-ali-1331351.html|archive-date=25 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |[[File:APJ Abdul Kalam 2015 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| Aerospace and defence scientist, Kalam was involved in the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle [[Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV III]] and was the architect of [[Integrated Guided Missile Development Program]]. He worked for [[Indian National Committee for Space Research]], [[Indian Space Research Organisation]], [[Defence Research and Development Laboratory]] and was appointed as the Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, [[Secretary to the Government of India|Secretary]] to Department of Defence Research and Development and Director General of [[Defence Research and Development Organisation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/profile/apjak.html|title=Bio-data: Avul Pakir Jainulabden Abdul Kalam|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB)|date=26 July 2002|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513081337/http://pib.nic.in/profile/apjak.html|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> Later, he served as the eleventh President of India from 2002 until 2007.<ref name="president"/>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 1998
| align="center" | [[File:MS_Subbulakshmi_2005_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| [[Carnatic music|Carnatic classical vocalist]] Subbulakshmi was from [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. She is known for her divine voice & often hailed as "Queen of songs",the first Indian musician to receive the [[Ramon Magsaysay award]] for her public service. She was honoured as a resident artist Aasthana Vidwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) has installed a bronze statue of her in the city. Her many famous renditions include the chanting of Bhaja Govindam, [[Vishnu Sahasranamam]] (1000 names of Vishnu), Hari Tuma Haro, Venkateswara Suprabhatam (musical hymns to awaken Lord Balaji early in the morning), Annamacharya Sankirtanas and Tamil [[Tevaram]]. She also acted in a few Tamil films in her youth from 1938 to 1947. She donated many of the royalties on several best sold records to many charity organisations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/11ms2.htm|title=M S Subbulakshmi: 'Nightingale' of Carnatic music|work=Rediff.com|date=12 December 2004|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708075137/http://www.rediff.com/news/2004/dec/11ms2.htm|archive-date=8 July 2015}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-ms-subbulakshmi-commemorated-with-a-doodle/20130916.htm|title=M. S. Subbulakshmi commemorated with a doodle|work=Rediff.com|date=16 September 2013|access-date=30 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131223175805/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-ms-subbulakshmi-commemorated-with-a-doodle/20130916.htm|archive-date=23 December 2013}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Chidambaram Subramaniam 2010 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[C. Subramaniam]]
|[[Tamil Nadu]]
| Independence activist and former [[Minister of Agriculture (India)|Minister of Agriculture]] of India (1964–66), Subramaniam is known for his contribution towards [[Green Revolution in India]]. During the late 1970s, he worked for [[International Rice Research Institute]], Manila, and the [[International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center|International Maize and Wheat Research Institute]], Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|title=C Subramaniam awarded Bharat Ratna|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/18cs.htm|work=Rediff.com|date=18 February 1998|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203092215/http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/feb/18cs.htm|archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="4" | 1999
| align="center" |[[File:Jayaprakash Narayan 1980 stamp of India bw.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Jayaprakash Narayan]]{{efn-lr|Jayaprakash Narayan died on 8 October 1979, at the age of 76.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Bihar]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] ([[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]])
| Independence activist, social reformer, and commonly referred as "Loknayak" ("People's Leader"), Narayan is better known for "[[Bihar Movement|Total Revolution Movement]]" or "JP Movement" initiated during the mid-1970s to "overthrow the corrupt and exploitative Congress government".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/insensitive-blunder-pm-morarji-desai-announces-jayaprakash-narayans-death-in-lok-sabha/1/427210.html|title=Jayapraksh Narayan: A leader betrayed|date=6 March 2014|access-date=17 September 2015|magazine=India Today|author1=Merchant, Minhaz|author2=Bobb, Dilip|author3=Louis, Arul B.|author4=Sethi, Sunil|author5=Chawla, Prabhu|author6=Ahmed, Farzand|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706002538/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/insensitive-blunder-pm-morarji-desai-announces-jayaprakash-narayans-death-in-lok-sabha/1/427210.html|archive-date=6 July 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Amartya Sen NIH.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Amartya Sen]]
|[[West Bengal]]
| Winner of the [[List of Nobel Memorial Prize laureates in Economics|Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences]] (1998),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/1998/|title=The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 1998|publisher=Nobel Foundation|access-date=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011195928/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/1998/|archive-date=11 October 2014}}</ref> Sen has done research over several topics including [[social choice theory]], ethics and [[political philosophy]], [[welfare economics]], [[decision theory]], [[development economics]], public health, and [[gender studies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scholar.harvard.edu/sen/biocv|title=Biographical note: Amartya Sen: Thomas W. Lamont University Professor, and Professor of Economics and Philosophy|publisher=Harvard University|access-date=17 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909103213/http://scholar.harvard.edu/sen/biocv|archive-date=9 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Gopinath_Bordoloi_1991_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Gopinath Bordoloi]]{{efn-lr|Gopinath Bordoloi died on 5 August 1950, at the age of 60.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Assam]]
| Independence activist Bordoloi was the first [[List of Chief Ministers of Assam|Chief Minister of Assam]] (1946–50).<ref>{{cite web|title=Assam Legislative Assembly—Chief Ministers since 1937|publisher=Assam Legislative Assembly|url=http://assamassembly.nic.in/cm-list.html|access-date=10 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116091830/http://assamassembly.nic.in/cm-list.html|archive-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> His efforts and association with the then Minister of Home Affairs Vallabhbhai Patel were widely acknowledged while keeping [[Assam]] united with India when parts of it were to merge with [[East Pakistan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/in-assam-narendra-modi-describes-how-congress-betrayed-it-550171|title=In Assam, Narendra Modi describes how Congress 'betrayed' it|author=Phukan, Sandeep|date=8 February 2014|access-date=17 September 2015|location=Guwahati|publisher=NDTV|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927173153/http://www.ndtv.com/elections-news/in-assam-narendra-modi-describes-how-congress-betrayed-it-550171|archive-date=27 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2014 - Colnect 496016 - Indian Musicians - Ravi Shankar(cropped).jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Ravi Shankar]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Winner of four [[Grammy Award]]s and often considered "the world's best-known exponent of Hindustani classical music", [[sitar]] player Shankar is known for his collaborative work with Western musicians including [[Yehudi Menuhin]] and [[George Harrison]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ravi-Shankar|title=Profile: Ravi Shankar|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=17 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923132132/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ravi-Shankar|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 2001
| align="center" | [[File:Lata_Mangeshkar.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Widely credited as the "nightingale of India",<ref>{{cite news|title=India's Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar turns 82 today|url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/lata-mangeshkar-who-touched-many-hearts-is-82-94473.html|access-date=9 June 2014|work=Firstpost|date=28 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130132359/http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/lata-mangeshkar-who-touched-many-hearts-is-82-94473.html|archive-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> playback singer Mangeshkar started her career in the 1940s and has sung songs in over 36 languages.{{sfn|Gulzar|Nihalani|Chatterjee|2003|pp=486, 487}} In 1989, Mangeshkar was awarded the [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]], India's highest award in cinema.<ref name="dadasahebdff"/>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Bismillah Khan 2008 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Bismillah Khan]]
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| Hindustani classical [[shehnai]] player, Khan played the instrument for more than eight decades and is credited to have brought the instrument to the centre stage of Indian music.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5270968.stm|title=Indian music's soulful maestro|date=21 August 2006|access-date=13 September 2015|work=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117092851/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5270968.stm|archive-date=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | 2009
| align="center" |[[File:Stamp of India - 2016 - Colnect 676493 - Bhimsen Joshi 1922-2011 singer.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Bhimsen Joshi]]
|[[Karnataka]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Manmohan Singh]], [[Indian National Congress]] ([[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]])
| A [[Hindustani classical music|Hindustani classical vocalist]] from Karnataka, Joshi was a disciple of [[Kirana gharana]], an Indian musical school. He is widely known for the [[Khyal]] genre of singing with a "mastery over rhythm and accurate notes".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Torch-bearers-of-kirana-gharana-and-their-followers/articleshow/7356191.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203134747/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Torch-bearers-of-kirana-gharana-and-their-followers/articleshow/7356191.cms|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2011|title=Torch-bearers of kirana gharana, and their followers|newspaper=The Times of India|location=[[Hubli]]|date=26 January 2011|access-date=9 May 2014|last=Jamkhandi|first=Gururaj|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/131822/haunting-melodic-grace-pandit-bhimsen.html |work=Deccan Herald |title=Haunting melodic grace of Pandit Bhimsen Joshiji |date=24 January 2011}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 2014
| align="center" | [[File:CNRrao2.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[C. N. R. Rao]]
|[[Karnataka]]
| The recipient of Honorary Doctorates from 63 Universities including [[Purdue University|Purdue]], [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay|IIT Bombay]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], chemist and professor Rao has worked prominently in the fields of [[Solid-state chemistry|Solid State]] and [[Materials science|Materials Chemistry]], [[Spectroscopy]] and Molecular Structure. He has authored around 1600 [[Academic publishing|research papers]] and 48 books.<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://insaindia.org/detail.php?id=N74-0635
 |title      = Indian Fellow: Professor Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao
 |access-date = 18 September 2015
 |publisher  = Indian National Science Academy
}}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.jncasr.ac.in/cnrrao/profile.html
 |title       = Profile: Rao C.N.R
 |access-date  = 18 September 2015
 |publisher   = Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150901164731/http://www.jncasr.ac.in/cnrrao/profile.html
 |archive-date = 1 September 2015
 |df          = dmy-all
}}
* {{cite web
 |url         = http://www.jncasr.ac.in/cnrrao/research.html
 |title       = Research: Rao C.N.R
 |access-date  = 18 September 2015
 |publisher   = Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150901164903/http://www.jncasr.ac.in/cnrrao/research.html
 |archive-date = 1 September 2015
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Sachin_Tendulkar_2013_stamp_of_India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Sachin Tendulkar]]
|[[Maharashtra]]
| Having debuted in 1989, Tendulkar played 664 [[international cricket]] matches in a career spanning over two decades. He holds various cricket records including the only player to have scored [[List of cricketers by number of international centuries scored|one hundred international centuries]], the first batsman to score a [[Century (cricket)|double century]] in a [[One Day International]] and the only player to complete more than 34,000 runs in both ODI and [[Test cricket]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sachin-Tendulkar|title=Profile: Sachin Tendulkar|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906002528/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sachin-Tendulkar|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284269.html|title=Records/Combined Test, ODI and T20I records/Batting records; Most runs in career|work=ESPNcricinfo|date=13 September 2015|access-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121051835/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284269.html|archive-date=21 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="2" | 2015
| align="center" | [[File:Madan Mohan Malaviya 1961 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Madan Mohan Malaviya]]{{efn-lr|Madan Mohan Malaviya died on 12 November 1946, at the age of 84.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Narendra Modi]], [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] ([[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]])
| Scholar and educational reformer Malaviya is a founder of [[Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha]] (1906) and [[Banaras Hindu University]] and served as the university's vice-chancellor from 1919 until 1938. He was the President of [[Indian National Congress]] for four terms and was the Chairman of [[Hindustan Times]] from 1924 to 1946.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madan-Mohan-Malaviya|title=Profile: Madan Mohan Malaviya|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906032137/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madan-Mohan-Malaviya|archive-date=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.bhu.ac.in/history1.htm|title=History of BHU: The Capital of all Knowledge|publisher=Banaras Hindu University|date=23 August 2011|access-date=18 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923184751/http://www.bhu.ac.in/history1.htm|archive-date=23 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79227|title=Speech of Prime Minister at the Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya inaugural function|publisher=Press Information Bureau|date=27 December 2011|access-date=6 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806195944/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=79227|archive-date=6 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[File:Stamp of India - 2018 - Colnect 838745 - Atal Vajpayee former Prime Minister.jpeg|100px]]
! scope="row" | [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]
|[[Madhya Pradesh]]
| Parliamentarian for over four decades, Vajpayee was elected nine times to the [[Lok Sabha]], twice to the [[Rajya Sabha]] and served as the Prime Minister of India for three terms; 1996, 1998, 1999–2004.<ref name="pm"/> He was [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Minister of External Affairs]] during 1977–79 and was awarded the "Best Parliamentarian" in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/profile/bajpayee.html|title=Profile of Shri Atal Behari Bajpayee|publisher=Press Information Bureau (PIB)|access-date=18 September 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810162641/http://pib.nic.in/profile/bajpayee.html|archive-date=10 August 2015|df=dmy-all}}
* {{cite web|url=http://pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee/|title=Profile: Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee: March 19, 1998 – May 22, 2004 [Bhartiya Janta Party]|publisher=Prime Minister's Office|access-date=6 November 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117173704/http://pmindia.gov.in/en/former_pm/shri-atal-bihari-vajpayee/|archive-date=17 November 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" rowspan="3"| 2019
| align="center" |[[File:Pranab_Mukherjee_Portrait_(cropped).jpg|100px]]
!scope="row" |[[Pranab Mukherjee]]
|[[West Bengal]]
|Mukherjee was an Indian politician who served as the [[List of Presidents of India|13th]] [[President of India]] from 2012 until 2017.  In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee had been a senior leader in the [[Indian National Congress]] and had occupied several ministerial portfolios in the [[Government of India]]. Prior to his [[2012 Indian presidential election|election as President]], he was [[Minister of Finance (India)|Union Finance Minister]] from 2009 to 2012.
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Bhupen Hazarika 2016 stamp.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Bhupen Hazarika]]{{efn-lr|Hazarika died on 5 November 2011, at the age of 85.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Assam]]
|Hazarika (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet and film-maker from [[Assam]], widely known as Sudhakantha. His songs, written and sung mainly in the [[Assamese language]] by himself, are marked by humanity and universal brotherhood and have been translated and sung in many languages, most notably in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Hindi]].
|-
| align="center" |[[File:Nanaji Deshmukh 2017 stamp of India.jpg|100px]]
! scope="row" style="background-color:#CEE8F0;" | [[Nanaji Deshmukh]]{{efn-lr|Deshmukh died on 27 February 2010, at the age of 93.}}{{sup|{{Hash}}}}
|[[Maharashtra]]
|Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh also known as Nanaji Deshmukh (11 October 1916 – 27 February 2010) was a social activist from [[India]]. He worked in the fields of education, health, and rural self-reliance. He was a leader of the [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]] and also a member of the [[Rajya Sabha]].
|}

== See also ==


*[[Padma Vibhushan]]
*[[Padma Bhushan]]
*[[Padma Shri]]
*[[The Greatest Indian]]

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist}}

=== Posthumous recipients ===
{{notelist-lr|30em}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Basu |first=Kanailal |title=Netaji: Rediscovered |year=2010 |publisher=AuthorHouse |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b9bQyfKq_EMC |isbn=978-1-4490-5569-1 }}
* {{cite book |last=Bhattacherje |first=S. B. |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Events & Dates |year=2009 |publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGVSvXuCsyUC&pg=PAA248 |isbn=978-81-207-4074-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Daniel |first=P. |title=The Indian Review |year=1958 |volume=58 |publisher=G. A. Natesan & Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=enjjAAAAMAAJ&q=Brabourne+Stadium }}
* {{cite book |last=Edgar |first=Thorpe |title=The Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2011 |year=2011 |publisher=Pearson Education India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mHaYRoLuKBgC |isbn=978-81-317-5640-9 }}
* {{cite book |last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |author-link=Ramachandra Guha |title=An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays |year=2001 |publisher=Orient Blackswan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hslnO7LGdRMC&pg=PA169 |isbn=978-81-7824-001-5 }}
* {{cite book |editor1-last=Gulzar |editor1-link=Gulzar |editor2-last=Nihalani |editor2-first=Govind |editor2-link=Govind Nihalani |editor3-last=Chatterjee |editor3-first=Saibal |title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema |year=2003 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC |isbn=978-81-7991-066-5 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Hoiberg |first1=Dale |author-link1=Dale Hoiberg |last2=Ramchandani |first2=Indu |title=Students' Britannica India |volume=1–5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISFBJarYX7YC&pg=PA96 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |year=2000 |isbn=978-81-7156-112-4 }}{{tertiary source inline|date=October 2021}}
* {{cite book |last=Osnes |first=Beth |title=Theatre for Women's Participation in Sustainable Development |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oU03AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA105 |publisher=Routledge |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-136-72846-4 }}
* {{cite book |last=Sainty |first=Guy Stair |author-link=Guy Stair Sainty |title=World Orders of Knighthood and Merit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WiYYAQAAMAAJ&q=bharat+ratna |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-9711966-7-4 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Taneja |first1=V. R. |last2=Taneja |first2=S. |title=Educational Thinkers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O6Fp2zaQVVMC&pg=PA167 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |year=2000 |isbn=978-81-7156-112-4 |ref={{harvid |Taneja |2000}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Weber |first=Thomas |author-link=Thomas E. Weber |title=Gandhi as Disciple and Mentor |url=https://archive.org/details/gandhiasdisciple0000webe |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/gandhiasdisciple0000webe/page/138 138] |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-139-45657-9 }}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Chandra|first=Shailesh|title=Bharat Ratna: The Jewel of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RmJ1tgAACAAJ |publisher=Alfa Publications|year=2009|isbn=978-81-907385-0-7|page=320}}
* {{cite book |last=Murthi|first=R. K.|title=Encyclopedia of Bharat Ratnas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkF3avvFvb4C |publisher=Pitambar Publishing|year=2005|isbn=978-81-209-1307-3}}
* Sabharwal,D.P. Wing Commander (2008). Bharat Ratnas. Rupa Publications. {{ISBN|978-81-291-4499-7}}

== External links ==
* 
* [https://gkqna.in/bharat-ratna-winner-list-2021/ भारत रत्न पुरस्कार विजेता व वर्ष Bharat Ratna Winner List Latest 2021]
{{Bharat Ratna}}
{{Indian honours and decorations}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna| ]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1954]]
[[Category:Civil awards and decorations of India]]
[[Category:Lists of Indian award winners]]