Context:
India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, is poised to be bestowed upon five distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to politics, governance, and agriculture. The recipients, including Karpoori Thakur, Mankombu Sambasivan (MS) Swaminathan, Pamulaparthi Venkata (P. V.) Narasimha Rao, Lal Krishna Advani, and Chaudhary Charan Singh, have left indelible marks in their respective fields.
Relevance:
GS: Government Policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Bharat Ratna
- Contributions of Bharat Ratna Awardees (2024)
About Bharat Ratna:
Highest Civilian Award: Bharat Ratna, instituted in 1954, stands as the highest civilian award in India.
Eligibility:
- Inclusive Criteria: The award is open to any individual without distinction of race, occupation, position, or gender. While predominantly awarded to India-born citizens, exceptions include the naturalized citizen Mother Teresa and non-Indians such as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela.
Special Considerations:
- Posthumous Awards: Originally, posthumous awards were not permitted, but the statutes were amended in 1955 to allow them. Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first posthumous recipient.
Recognition Criteria:
- Exceptional Service: Conferred in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order across any field of human endeavor.
Nomination Process:
- Prime Minister’s Recommendation: The Prime Minister recommends the awardees to the President, and no formal recommendations are required.
Limitations:
- Annual Cap: The number of awards is capped at a maximum of three per year.
Award Components:
- Recognition: Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. However, the award does not carry any monetary grant.
Contributions of Bharat Ratna Awardees (2024)
Karpoori Thakur:
- Served twice as Bihar’s 11th Chief Minister (1970-71 and 1977-79) and known as “Jan Nayak.”
- Pioneered reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) based on Mungeri Lal Commission recommendations.
- Introduced a groundbreaking reservation model in 1978, allocating 26% of reservations with specific quotas for OBCs, Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), women, and economically backward classes among upper castes.
- Advocate for marginalized communities’ rights, emphasizing social justice and inclusive development.
Mankombu Sambasivan (MS) Swaminathan:
- Recognized as the ‘Father of India’s Green Revolution.’
- Collaborated with Norman Borlaug to develop high-yielding wheat and rice varieties in the 1960s and ’70s.
- Advocated for fair prices for agricultural produce and sustainable farming practices.
- Played a pivotal role in developing the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Act, 2001.
- Received prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, Ramon Magsaysay Award, and Albert Einstein World Science Award.
Pamulaparthi Venkata (P. V.) Narasimha Rao:
- Served as the 9th Prime Minister of India (1991-1996).
- Reset India’s foreign policy, improving ties with the United States and establishing relations with Israel.
- Maintained national independence by refusing to give up India’s right to pursue its nuclear strategy.
- Initiated economic liberalization and resurgence through the LPG reforms of 1991.
- Enacted the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments Acts, mandating one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies.
Lal Krishna Advani:
- Served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India (1999-2004) and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party since its inception in 1980.
- Widely regarded for intellectual ability, strong principles, and unwavering support for a strong and prosperous India.
Chaudhary Charan Singh:
- Indian politician, freedom fighter, and 5th Prime Minister of India.
- Led Uttar Pradesh in abolishing the zamindari system as agriculture minister in 1952.
- Advocated for peasants’ interests and rights, introducing measures for their welfare.
- Promoted values of democracy, secularism, and social justice.
- Engaged in a non-violent struggle for independence and imprisoned several times, following Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.
-Source: The Hindu
