Full List of Recipients of Bharat Ratna Award!

The award was originally confined to the arts, literature, science, and public services, as per the 1954 regulations. In December 2011, the rules were changed to include “any field of human endeavour”. The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards, but this was subsequently modified in the January 1955 statute, and Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first recipient to be honoured posthumously in 1966.

The Bharat Ratna is a medallion and a miniature. The medallion is made of gold and is 35 mm in diameter. It has a portrait of the Sun God on the obverse and the inscription “Bharat Ratna” on the reverse. The miniature is a replica of the medallion and is made of silver.

The Bharat Ratna is not awarded in a regular annual schedule. The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President. The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion. The Award does not carry any monetary grant.