Bharat Ratna Award

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order.
• The original specifications for the award called for a circular gold medal, 35 mm in diameter, with the sun and the Hindi legend "Bharat Ratna" above and a floral wreath below. The reverse was to carry the state emblem and motto. It was to be worn around the neck from a white ribbon. This design was altered after a year.

Bharat Ratna Award

Bharat Ratna Award
(Reverse Side)

• The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954.
•  The first ever Indian to receive this award was the famous scientist, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.
• There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only.
• The award has been awarded to a naturalized Indian citizen, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa (1980) and to two non-Indians – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela (1990).
• It is also not mandatory that Bharat Ratna be awarded every year.
• The last time this award was given was in 2008, to Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi.