The title Bharat Ratna literally means ‘Jewel of India’ and it is the highest Civilian award bestowed by the Republic of India. Bharat Ratna is awarded to exceptional individuals who have performed in the highest order. It was first given in 1954. Although this award was originally given to those artists who had outstanding achievements in art, science, literature and public service, in December 2011, the criteria were expanded to include ‘any field of human endeavour’.
The Prime Minister of India makes the recommendations to the President of India who chooses not more than three people in a particular year for the award. Although no money is given to the awardees, those who are chosen are given a peepal-leaf shaped medal and a certificate (sanad). According to the Indian Order of Precedence, those who are given Bharat Ratna are ranked seventh.
The award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient's name, in terms of Article 18(1) of the Constitution.
Some of the prominent awardees are as follows:
1. 1954 C. Rajagopalachari (Freedom fighter and last Governor-General of India)
Dr. C.V Raman (Physicist)
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (Philosopher as well as first Vice President and second President of India)
2. 1955 Jawaharlal Nehru (Freedom fighter, writer and first Prime Minister of India)
3. 1962 Rajendra Prasad (Jurist, freedom fighter and first President of India)
4.1966 Lal Bahadur Shastri (Freedom fighter and second Prime Minister of India)
5.1971 Indira Gandhi (3rd PM of india)
6.1980 Mother Teresa (Social worker, founder of Missionaries of Charity and a Catholic nun)
7.1990 BR Ambedkar (crusade against Untouchability, the chief architect of Indian Constitution, social reformer, historian, economist and politician)
8.1997 Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam (Scientist and eleventh President of India)
9.1999 Prof. Amartya Sen (Economist)
10.2014 Sachin Tendulkar (Cricketer), C.N.R Rao Chemist & Scientist
11.2015 Madan Mohan Malviya, Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Was Prime Minister of India for three terms.)