The Bharat Ratna award first came into existence on January 2, 1954, and is known for being the highest civilian award that can be won irrespective of whether the recipient is Indian. As a result, several non-Indian citizens have won this prestigious award. These include Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela, who won the award in 1987 and 1990. The award was initially conferred upon individuals who contribute remarkably to the fields of arts, literature, science, or public services; however, in 2011, the Government of India extended the category to encompass notable endeavours for the betterment of people.

A short note on Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna was first introduced on January 2, 1954, by the first Indian President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. An individual is eligible to win this award irrespective of their race, sex, gender, or occupation. Three Bharat Ratnas are conferred each year on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister to the President. The recipient of the award receives a certificate signed by the President and a medallion in the shape of a peepal leaf.

Bharat Ratna Award

The gold medallion was initially circular, having a diameter of 35 mm and flaunting a sunburst design located at the centre on the obverse side. The words “Bharat Ratna” are inscribed in silver in the Devanagari script. The centre boasts the state emblem of India – Satyamev Jayate – engraved in the Devanagari script. The medallion was modified in 1958 to resemble the current shape of the peepal leaf.

Bharat Ratna Benefits Extended to the Awardee

Although the benefits of the Bharat Ratna award do not include any monetary gains, there do exist certain privileges such as those mentioned below:

  1. The Bharat Ratna recipients are accorded the same treatment given to the government dignitaries when they travel across the country.
  2. The Bharat Ratna benefits also include an existing diplomatic passport which happens to be issued to only Indian diplomats, top-ranking officers inside the government departments, and the diplomatic couriers. The diplomatic passport provides them with the benefits of a separate immigration counter and access to a VIP lounge inside the airports.
  3. They get lifetime access to fly in the executive class for free. 
  4. The Table of Precedence is a list made for State and Ceremonial occasions by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This protocol has to be followed when holding a public function in India. The Bharat Ratna awardees have been placed at the position 7A in this list along with the President, Vice- President, Prime Minister, Governor of the respective State, Former Presidents, Deputy Prime Minister, and the Chief Justice of India along with Speaker of Lok Sabha placed above them,
  5. The award recipient receives a medallion, a miniature, and a certificate signed by the President of India.

The benefits of the Bharat Ratna Award and their tax implications

The Indian government has declared a few awards tax-free for the award winner, and a Bharat Ratna recipient enjoys the same tax benefits.

For example, the award received by Sachin Tendulkar is entirely tax-free.

First 3 Bharat Ratna Award holders

The first three Bharat Ratna recipients were as follows:

  1. C Rajagopalachari  
  2. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan 
  3. Dr. C.V Raman 

Factual Information on Bharat Ratna Award

  1. The medals are manufactured at the Kolkata airport mint.
  2. The year 1999 witnessed four Bharat Ratna recipients instead of three.
  3. Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest recipient of Bharat Ratna in 2014. He also became the first sportsperson to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
  4.  In 1997 the award was cancelled because of the ongoing controversy over Subhas Chandra bose’s death. This was the only time Bharat Ratna was withdrawn after the announcement.
  5.  Any non-Indian is eligible to win the award.
  6.  It is the highest civilian award in India.
  7.  The first Bharat Ratna was awarded in 1954.
  8. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela are the first non-Indians to have received the Bharat Ratna Award.

Conclusion  

The Bharat Ratna award is one of India’s most valued and prestigious awards. It is the highest civilian award in India granted to individuals irrespective of caste, creed, sex, or religion. Only three individuals receive Bharat Ratna each year. The awardees may belong to any field of work undertaken for the greater human good. The award accords various benefits to the awardee, which excludes the permission to use the award’s name as a prefix or suffix to their name.