Bharat Ratna Winners List, Eligibility, Price & Benefits Guide

Want to know who receives India's highest civilian honour and why? Explore the complete history of the Bharat Ratna, winners list, eligibility, benefits, and selection process in one place.

History Of The Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award) was introduced by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 2 January 1954. The main motive of this award is to honor people who have made an exceptional contribution to the country.

The term ‘Bharat Ratna’ means ‘Gem Of India’. Thus, it is not just a medal but a symbol of national pride and respect. The First Bharat Ratna recipients were C. Rajagopalachari (respected statesman), Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (great philosopher), and C. V. Raman (Nobel Prize-winning scientist). 

Eligibility Criteria

To fit in the Bharat Ratna eligibility criteria, the contribution must be exceptional and of the highest order. Any person can be considered, regardless of race, religion, gender, occupation, profession or background.

It means that the Bharat Ratna honors excellence in different fields. It may include public affairs, science, literature, art, and social service.

The award can also be given after the individual has died, which is known as Posthumously. In uncommon instances, non-citizens have likewise been recognized.

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Bharat Ratna Winners List

Throughout the years, this esteemed award has been presented to remarkable leaders, scientists, artists, social activists, and sports legends whose contributions have made a significant mark on India.

The table below provides a brief overview of the Bharat Ratna winners list, the year they were awarded, and the reasons for their recognition.

Bharat Ratna Winners List
Year	Awardee Name	Contribution
1954	C. Rajagopalachari	Contribution to public life and nation-building.
1954	Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan	Excellence in philosophy, education, and public service.
1954	C. V. Raman	Outstanding contribution to science, especially physics.
1955	Bhagwan Das	Service in education, philosophy, and social reform.
1955	M. Visvesvaraya	Major contribution to engineering and nation-building.
1955	Jawaharlal Nehru	Leadership as India’s first Prime Minister.
1957	Govind Ballabh Pant	Public service and leadership in Indian politics.
1958	Dhondo Keshav Karve	Work in women’s education and social reform.
1961	Bidhan Chandra Roy	Public service and contribution to medicine.
1961	Purushottam Das Tandon	Contribution to Indian public life and social work.
1962	Rajendra Prasad	Leadership and service as India’s first President.
1963	Zakir Husain	Contribution to education and public life.
1963	Pandurang Vaman Kane	Scholarship in Sanskrit and ancient Indian law.
1966	Lal Bahadur Shastri	Posthumous recognition for leadership and national service.
1971	Indira Gandhi	Leadership and political service as Prime Minister.
1975	V. V. Giri	Public service and leadership.
1976	K. Kamaraj	Posthumous recognition for political leadership and service.
1980	Mother Teresa	Humanitarian work and service to the poor.
1983	Vinoba Bhave	Social reform and work for land redistribution.
1987	Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan	Peace, freedom struggle, and social service.
1988	M. G. Ramachandran	Posthumous recognition for political and social contribution.
1990	B. R. Ambedkar	Posthumous recognition for social justice and Constitution making.
1990	Nelson Mandela	Struggle against apartheid and commitment to justice.
1991	Rajiv Gandhi	Posthumous recognition for political leadership.
1991	Vallabhbhai Patel	Contribution to national integration.
1991	Morarji Desai	Public service and leadership as Prime Minister.
1992	Abul Kalam Azad	Contribution to education and India’s freedom struggle.
1992	J. R. D. Tata	Contribution to industry and nation-building.
1992	Satyajit Ray	Excellence in cinema and artistic contribution.
1997	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam	Contribution to science and missile development.
1997	Gulzarilal Nanda	Public service and political leadership.
1997	Aruna Asaf Ali	Role in India’s freedom movement.
1998	M. S. Subbulakshmi	Excellence in Carnatic music.
1998	Chidambaram Subramaniam	Contribution to agriculture and food security.
1999	Jayaprakash Narayan	Posthumous recognition for public movement and social reform.
1999	Amartya Sen	Contribution to economics and human development.
1999	Gopinath Bordoloi	Posthumous recognition for public service.
1999	Ravi Shankar	Contribution to Indian classical music.
2001	Lata Mangeshkar	Legendary contribution to Indian music.
2001	Bismillah Khan	Indian classical shehnai player.
2009	Bhimsen Joshi	Indian classical vocalist.
2014	Sachin Tendulkar	Excellence in cricket and sports.
2014	C. N. R. Rao	Contribution to science and chemistry.
2015	Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Leadership and service as Prime Minister.
2015	Madan Mohan Malaviya	Posthumous recognition for education and public service.
2019	Bhupen Hazarika	Posthumous recognition for music and cultural contribution.
2019	Pranab Mukherjee	Leadership and public service as President of India.
2019	Nanaji Deshmukh	A social activist from India, education, health, and rural self-reliance.
2024	P. V. Narasimha Rao	Posthumous recognition for leadership and reforms.
2024	Chaudhary Charan Singh	Posthumous recognition for work in farmers’ welfare.
2024	M. S. Swaminathan	Agricultural research and food security.
2024	Karpoori Thakur	Posthumous recognition for social justice and public service.
2024	L. K. Advani	Political leadership and public life.

From the above list - Lal Bahadur Shastri, K. Kamaraj, Vinoba Bhave, M.G. Ramachandran, B.R. Ambedkar, Rajiv Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Aruna Asaf Ali, Jayaprakash Narayan, Gopinath Bordoloi, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, M.S. Swaminathan, and Karpoori Thakur are the Bharat Ratna Posthumous Recipients.

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Selection Process

The process starts with suggestions provided by the Prime Minister of India. There is no official public nomination process for the award.

The suggestions are presented to the President of India, who officially awards the Bharat Ratna to those approved.

Following presidential endorsement, the Government of India and the President’s office officially disclose the names of the recipients.

Medal Design

The awardee receives a certificate endorsed by the president along with a medal.The medal resembles a peepal leaf and measures 5.8 cm in length, 4.7 cm in width, and 3.1 mm in thickness.

The medal is made of bronze, featuring an embossed image of the sun in its center, which measures 1.6 cm across. On the reverse of the medal, the state emblem and the country's motto are inscribed in Devanagari script.

Only three Bharat Ratna awards are conferred each year. As per the constitution, the Bharat Ratna cannot be added as a prefix or suffix to the name of the recipient.

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Bharat Ratna Prize Money 

The Bharat Ratna Prize Money is actually zero, because this award does not include any cash reward. Instead, the recipient gets huge respect and special Bharat Ratna benefits like national recognition, protocol privileges, and in some cases travel and security facilities.

Benefits Of Bharat Ratna

Recipients of the Bharat Ratna are ranked at Position 7A in the Table of Precedence, sharing this status with prominent figures such as Governors, Former Presidents, and the Deputy Prime Minister, guaranteeing esteemed acknowledgment during official occasions.

Honorees obtain a diplomatic passport, which allows them entry to designated immigration lines, VIP lounges at airports, and various benefits exclusive to senior government officials.

Beneficiaries receive complimentary lifetime air travel in executive class on domestic routes, funded by the Government of India.

During official trips, they are treated like high-ranking government officials, enjoying protocol services and access to government accommodations.

Difference Between Bharat Ratna & Padma Award

Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. It is given for exceptional service or achievements of the highest order in any field.

Padma Awards are also top civilian honors, but they are below Bharat Ratna in rank and are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.

Bharat Ratna vs Padma Award
Point	Bharat Ratna	Padma Awards
Rank	Highest civilian award in India	Lower than Bharat Ratna; includes three levels
Purpose	For exceptional service of the highest order	For distinguished service and achievements
Categories	One single award	Three awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri
Scope	Very rare and given only to the most outstanding people	Broader recognition across many fields

The Bharat Ratna remains India's highest recognition for extraordinary service to the nation. It celebrates individuals whose contributions have left a lasting impact on India's history and society.

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