New Delhi: The custom of bestowing honours to eminent people goes back to ancient times, when the kings and emperors used to reward their courtiers or anyone else of merit with titles. That tradition has continued in today’s age, with countries honouring people with remarkable contribution to the society with their respective prestigious awards. In India, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan constitute the two most important awards which the government can give to any civilian.
Bharat Ratna: The highest civilian award in India
The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award and it was instituted on January 2, 1954. The award is given to those who have some exceptional performance of the highest order in any field irrespective of their gender, race, position and occupation. Originally, the award was only given to those who have remarkable achievements in the fields of science, arts, literature and public services. Later, in December 2011, the Indian government changed the criteria to include ‘any field of human endeavor’.
Who recommends for the Bharat Ratna?
The Prime Minister of India makes the recommendations of the award to the President. The recipients are given a Sanad (certificate) which the President signs and a medallion shaped like peepal leaf. The person who receives the Bharat Ratna is ranked seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
Who were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna?
The Bharat Ratna was first given in 1994 and its first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari, the former Governor-General of the Union of India, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s former President and CV Raman, the Indian physicist. Former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first person who was awarded it posthumously. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was the youngest recipient of the award at 40 and social reformer Dhondo Keshav Karve was the oldest recipient at 100. Mother Teresa is the only naturalised citizen who has received the award and the only non-Indians to have received it are Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela.
Padma Vibhushan: The second-highest civilian award in India
The Padma Vibhushan is India’s second-highest civilian award and it was also instituted on January 2, 1954. The award is given to all those who have the record of an exceptional and distinguished service irrespective of their gender, race, occupation and position in the society. However, it must be noted that government servants including those working with public sector undertakings except those who are scientists and doctors are not considered for the award.
Who recommends for the Padma Vibhushan?
Every year, the Prime Minister of India forms the Padma Awards Committee and the recommendations for the award are submitted to them. The recommendations come from every part of India and it is done by eminent people like the Chief Ministers, the Governors, the Ministers and the previous Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan award recipients. Later, the committee submits their recommendations to the President and the Prime Minister and the award recipients are declared on January 26, the Republic Day.
Who were the first recipients of the Padma Vibhushan?
The Padma Vibhushan was first awarded in 1954 and it was given to Satyendra Nath Bose, Zakir Husain, Nand Lal Bose, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, VK Krishna Menon, and Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher. The award was modified in 1955 to be awarded posthumously. The most recent recipients of the award on January 26, 2024, are Venkaiah Naidu, Chiranjeevi, Vyjayanthimala, Bindeshwar Pathak (posthumous) and Padma Subrahmanyam.
India’s highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan, recognize exceptional contributions to society. Established in 1954, the Bharat Ratna honors outstanding achievement across various fields, while the Padma Vibhushan acknowledges distinguished service. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
