List of Bharat Ratna Award Winners: Celebrating India’s Icons of Excellence
The Bharat Ratna is Bharat’s highest civilian award is given to someone who has made exceptional achievements and contributed services to the country. This award was introduced in 1954 along with infrastructure considering the fact that this award gives a very auspicious recognition to the person and I believe that people who have exemplary work in the field of politics, science, arts, arts, sports and social reform should be marked.Knowing the explainer of the Bharat Ratna winners list,it’s the award’s history, notable recipients of it,and its importance and how it contributed significantly towards India’s history and progress is essential. These wonderful Bharat Ratna awardees deserve the kind of recognition for their life changing efforts and embrace the mark that they reached.!
A Brief History of the Bharat Ratna Award
The Bharat Ratna Award was instituted on January 2, 1954, by the Government of India as a recognition for remarkable achievement in any field of human activity. Bharat Ratna, means Jewel of India is an award, and the medal is designed with a peepal leaf where the words Bharat Ratna is also inscribed in Devanagari. The award has, over decades, bestowed 53 individuals as of 2024 which includes few non-citizens and some posthumous Bharat Ratna awards.
Static GK Notes and Exam Support by Rohit Academy :
Rohit Academy offers simplified Static GK notes designed for easy comprehension, ideal for competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, banking, railways, and state-level tests. The notes feature FAQs based on previous exam papers, targeting high-scoring topics to aid preparation. Free study resources are available to support students across these exams. Check Rohit Academy’s official website or platform for access.
Bharat Ratna Award: List of recipients
| Year | Recipients | Field/Contribution |
| 1954 | C. Rajagopalachari | Last Governor-General of India, freedom fighter, and statesman, first recipient of Bharat Ratna |
| Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan | Philosopher and India's first Vice-President and second President | |
| C. V. Raman | Physicist renowned for the Raman Effect; Nobel Laureate in Physics | |
| 1955 | Bhagwan Das | Freedom fighter, philosopher, co-founded Kashi Vidyapith, promoted education. |
| M. Visvesvaraya | Engineer, built dams (Krishna Raja Sagara), modernized infrastructure, Diwan of Mysore. | |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | First Prime Minister, shaped modern India, led independence movement, Non-Aligned Movement. | |
| 1957 | Govind Ballabh Pant | Freedom fighter, first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh |
| 1958 | Dhondo Keshav Karve | Social reformer and educator |
| 1961 | Bidhan Chandra Roy | Physician, second Chief Minister of West Bengal |
| Purushottam Das Tandon | Freedom fighter, promoted Hindi, led Congress, worked for rural upliftment | |
| 1962 | Rajendra Prasad | First President of India, freedom fighter |
| 1963 | Zakir Husain | Third President, educationist, served as a Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and the Governor of Bihar |
| Pandurang Vaman Kane | Indologist and Sanskrit scholar, authored History of Dharmasastra | |
| 1966 | Lal Bahadur Shastri (Posthumous) | Second Prime Minister of India, coined “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan,” led India during 1965 Indo-Pak War. |
| 1971 | Indira Gandhi | First female PM, first woman to receive the Bharat Ratna |
| 1975 | V. V. Giri | Fourth President of India, |
| 1976 | K. Kamaraj (Posthumous) | Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu |
| 1980 | Mother Teresa | Founded Missionaries of Charity, served the poor, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1979) |
| 1983 | Vinoba Bhave (Posthumous) | Gandhian, led Bhoodan Movement for land redistribution, social reformer |
| 1987 | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan | Frontier Gandhi,” non-violent freedom fighter, First non-Indian citizen to receive the Bharat Ratna |
| 1988 | M. G. Ramachandran (Posthumous) | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, founded AIADMK |
| 1990 | B.R. Ambedkar (Posthumous) | Architect of Indian Constitution, Dalit leader, social reformer, economist |
| Nelson Mandela | Leader of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa, first Black President, global peace icon | |
| 1991 | Rajiv Gandhi (Posthumous) | Prime Minister, modernised IT and telecom |
| Vallabhbhai Patel (Posthumous) | First Deputy Prime Minister of India, Unified India by integrating princely states, freedom fighter | |
| Morarji Desai | 4th Prime Minister of India, an Indian independence activist | |
| 1992 | Abul Kalam Azad (Posthumous) | Freedom fighter, first Education Minister, shaped India’s education policy |
| J. R. D. Tata | Industrialist, founded Tata Airlines (now Air India), built Tata Group empire | |
| Satyajit Ray | Filmmaker, created Apu Trilogy, elevated Indian cinema globally, Oscar winner | |
| 1997 | Gulzarilal Nanda | Activist, and interim Prime Minister of India. |
| Aruna Asaf Ali | An Indian independence activist, First Mayor of Delhi | |
| A.P.J Abdul Kalam | Missile Man of India | |
| 1998 | M. S. Subbulakshmi | Carnatic singer, popularized classical music globally, cultural ambassador |
| Chidambaram Subramaniam | Architect of Green Revolution, Agriculture Minister, boosted food security. | |
| 1999 | Jayaprakash Narayan (Posthumous) | Led anti-Emergency movement, Gandhian |
| Amartya Sen | Economist, Nobel laureate | |
| Gopinath Bordoloi (Posthumous) | First Chief Minister of Assam, preserved Northeast’s identity, resisted partition plans | |
| Ravi Shankar | Musician, sitar player | |
| 2001 | Lata Mangeshkar | Playback singer |
| Bismillah Khan | Hindustani classical shehnai player | |
| 2009 | Bhimsen Joshi | Hindustani classical vocalist |
| 2014 | C. N. R. Rao | Chemist, advanced solid-state and materials science, led scientific research |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Cricket legend, scored 100 international centuries, youngest recipient of Bharat Ratna | |
| 2015 | Madan Mohan Malaviya | Founded BHU, freedom fighter, promoted education and Hindu cultural revival |
| Atal Bihari Bajpayee | Former Prime Minister, led Pokhran-II nuclear tests, improved infrastructure, poet-statesman. | |
| 2019 | Pranab Mukherjee | 13th President, Finance Minister, shaped economic and foreign policy, scholar. |
| Nanaji Deshmukh (Posthumous) | Assamese singer, filmmaker, bridged Northeast with mainstream India via art. | |
| Bhupen Hazarika (Posthumous) | Renowned musician and cultural icon from Assam | |
| 2024 | Lal Krishna Advani | Former Politician and Deputy Prime Minister |
| P.V. Narsimha Rao (Posthumous) | Former Prime Minister known for economic liberalization. | |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh (Posthumous) | Former Prime Minister | |
| M.S. Swaminathan (Posthumous) | Agricultural scientist and pioneer of India's Green Revolution | |
| Karpoori Thakur (Posthumously) | Former Chief Minister of Bihar and social reformer |
Bharat Ratna Awards Winners PDF List
The First Bharat Ratna Winners
The inaugural Bharat Ratna recipients in 1954 set the tone for the award’s legacy. They were:
- C. Rajagopalachari: A freedom fighter and India’s last Governor-General.
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan: A philosopher and India’s second President.
- Dr. C.V. Raman: A Nobel laureate physicist who revolutionized spectroscopy.
Notable Bharat Ratna Awardees
The Bharat Ratna winners list is a tapestry of India’s finest minds and hearts. Here are some iconic recipients:
- Political Leaders: Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who shaped modern India’s political landscape.
- Scientists: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the “Missile Man” and former President, celebrated for his contributions to space and defense.
- Artists: Lata Mangeshkar, whose melodious voice became India’s cultural heartbeat.
- Social Reformers: Mother Teresa, a non-Indian recipient, recognized for her humanitarian work.
- Sports Icons: Sachin Tendulkar, the youngest Bharat Ratna winner at age 40, for his cricketing genius.
Bharat Ratna Award Benefits and Process
The Prime Minister recommends candidates to the President of India. No formal nomination process is required.
Recipients receive:
- A Sanad (certificate) and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion.
- State guest status across India.
- VIP airport privileges (separate immigration counter, access to VIP lounge).
- Free lifetime first-class flight travel on Air India.
- Z-category security if needed.
- A pension equivalent to 50% of the Prime Minister’s salary.
- 7A position in the Indian Order of Precedence.
The Youngest Winners
The Bharat Ratna youngest winner, Sachin Tendulkar, received the honor at 40, reflecting his global impact as a cricketer.
You Can Also Visit:
| Complete List of Static GK |
| Study Materials for Competitive Examination |
| Bharat Ratna Winners List in Hindi |
| Bharat Ratna Winners List in Bengali |
Official Websites:
By clicking the following link, you can visit the official website of the respective organization.
- NCERT
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railway Requirement Board (RRB
- Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC)
- Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC)
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- Public Service Commission, West Bengal (WBPSC)
- West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB)
- Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB)
FAQs: Bharat Ratna Awards Winners
Here are some FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) related to the Bharat Ratna Awards Winners.
Who is the first recipient of Bharat Ratna Award ?
Who Was the First Indian Woman to Receive Bharat Ratna?
Who is the first non-Indian to receive Bharat Ratna?
Who is the youngest recipient of Bharat Ratna?
Which foreign nationals have received the Bharat Ratna?
In which year was the Bharat Ratna award established?
Who nominates Bharat Ratna recipients?
Are there any benefits for Bharat Ratna recipients?
***Note: “If you find any errors or mistakes, let us know by commenting or sending us an email.”
