Context: Karpoori Thakur, former Chief Minister of Bihar, was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
More information:
- Recognized as a socialist icon, Thakur gained prominence for his dedicated efforts to uplift the backward classes in Bihar.
- During the Quit India Movement, he faced imprisonment alongside other freedom fighters, consistently striving to oust the British colonial rulers.
- Notably, he played a pioneering role in implementing the recommendations of the MungeriLal Commission during his tenure as Bihar CM from 1977 to 1979, ensuring reservation benefits for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Awards given by Government of India:
About Bharat Ratna:
- The designation ‘Bharat Ratna,’ which translates to 'Jewel of India,' signifies the highest civilian honour presented by the Republic of India.
- Established in 1954, the Bharat Ratna is granted to extraordinary individuals who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments.
- Originally focused on recognizing achievements in art, science, literature, and public service, the criteria underwent an expansion in December 2011 to encompass excellence in 'any field of human endeavour.'
- Selection process:
- Recommendations for the award can only be made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees honoured annually.
- In 1999, an exception saw four individuals receiving the honour.
- Although no monetary reward accompanies the honour, recipients receive a unique Peepal-leaf shaped medal and a certificate known as a ‘Sanad.’
- In the hierarchy of the Indian Order of Precedence, Bharat Ratna recipients hold the seventh rank.
- The usage of the title 'Bharat Ratna' as a prefix or suffix is exempt from Article 18(1) of the Constitution, as established by the Supreme Court's precedent in Balaji Raghavan/S.P. Anand v. Union of India in 1995.
- The first recipients in 1954 included C. Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of the Dominion of India; Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President and first Vice President of India; and Nobel Prize Laureate and Physicist C. V. Raman.
- Originally, the statutes did not allow for posthumous awards, but in January 1955, amendments were made to permit them.
- The first posthumous honouree was former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- Despite typically being conferred upon India-born citizens, notable exceptions include Mother Teresa, a naturalized citizen, and non-Indians such as Abdul Ghaffar Khan (originally from British India, later a citizen of Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela, a citizen of South Africa.
- The Bharat Ratna, along with other personal civil honours, faced brief suspensions during the periods of July 1977 to January 1980 and August 1992 to December 1995, due to changes in the national government and legal challenges to their constitutional validity.
- In 1992, controversy arose over the posthumous award to Subhas Chandra Bose, leading to a cancellation following a Supreme Court decision in 1997, a unique instance where the award was announced but not conferred.
- Recipients whose awards have been revoked must surrender their medals, and their names are struck from the register.
- There is no Bharat Ratna Award winners list for 2020 and 2021.
Several special entitlements:
- The medallion and its miniature counterpart.
- A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India.
- Treatment as a state guest by state governments when traveling within a state.
- Assistance from Indian missions abroad upon request.
- Eligibility for a diplomatic passport.
- Lifetime complimentary executive class travel on Air India.
- Occupying the seventh position in the Indian order of precedence.
About Padma Awards:
- Padma Awards were established in 1954 to recognize and honour individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields such as Sports, Art, Social work, Civil Service, Literature and Education, Public Affairs, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, among others.
- The awardees are announced annually on Republic Day, celebrating their exceptional services.
- Despite being consistently awarded each year, there were three exceptions: in 1977, 1980, and the period between 1993 and 1997.
- Specific rules govern the conferment of Padma awards, including a waiting period of five or more years for recipients to be eligible for a higher degree of award after their last conferment.
- Posthumous awards are rare but can be considered in exceptional cases, and there must be a notable element of public service in the achievements of the individual.
The Padma Awards are categorized into three levels by the Government of India:
- Padma Vibhushan: Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service (Second Degree Honour).
- Padma Bhushan: Recognizing distinguished service of a high order (Third Degree Honour).
- Padma Shri: Conferred for distinguished service (Fourth Degree Honour).
Padma Vibhushan:
- This is the second-highest civilian award in India, bestowed in recognition of exceptional and distinguished service.
- Recipients receive a citation certificate and a medal featuring a lotus flower in the centre, with the words ‘Desh Seva’ embossed on the obverse.
Padma Bhushan:
- As the third-highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan is given to individuals who have contributed significantly to India's reputation on the global stage.
- The award is conferred in a ceremonial event held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, conducted by the President of India.
Padma Shri:
- This is the fourth-highest civilian award, presented by the Government of India to individuals who have made distinguished contributions in various fields.
- Recipients do not receive a cash prize but are honoured with a certificate and a medallion featuring a three-leafed flower on one side and the words Padma (lotus) and Shri (Mr. or Ms.) in Devanagari script on the obverse.
Note:
- It is noteworthy that government servants, except doctors and scientists, working in public sector undertakings (PSUs), are not eligible for these awards.