List of recipients of Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India, instituted in 1954. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor — such as arts, literature, science, public service, and sports.
Awardees receive a certificate (Sanad) signed by the President of India and a medallion shaped like a peepal leaf.
Instituted: 1954
Presented by: President of India
Eligibility: Open to all persons, regardless of race, occupation, position, or gender
Fields Recognized: Arts, Science, Literature, Public Services, Sports
Awarded Posthumously: Yes (from 1955)
Complete List of Bharat Ratna Recipients (1954–2025)
Here’s a chronological list of Bharat Ratna awardees, along with their fields of contribution:
| Year | Name | Field |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | C. Rajagopalachari | Public Affairs |
| 1954 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | Education, Philosophy |
| 1954 | Dr. C. V. Raman | Science (Physics) |
| 1955 | Bhagwan Das | Literature & Education |
| 1955 | M. Visvesvaraya | Engineering, Public Service |
| 1955 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Politics & Public Affairs |
| 1957 | Govind Ballabh Pant | Politics & Public Affairs |
| 1958 | Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve | Social Work |
| 1961 | Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy | Medicine, Public Service |
| 1962 | Purushottam Das Tandon | Politics, Education |
| 1963 | Dr. Zakir Husain | Education, Politics |
| 1966 | Lal Bahadur Shastri (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1971 | Indira Gandhi | Politics |
| 1975 | V. V. Giri | Politics |
| 1976 | K. Kamaraj (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1980 | Mother Teresa | Social Work |
| 1983 | Vinoba Bhave (Posthumous) | Social Reform |
| 1987 | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan | Freedom Movement |
| 1990 | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (Posthumous) | Law, Social Reform |
| 1990 | Nelson Mandela | Public Affairs (Foreign) |
| 1991 | Rajiv Gandhi (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1991 | Vallabhbhai Patel (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1991 | Morarji Desai | Politics |
| 1992 | Abul Kalam Azad (Posthumous) | Education |
| 1992 | J. R. D. Tata | Industry |
| 1992 | Satyajit Ray | Films |
| 1997 | A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering |
| 1997 | Aruna Asaf Ali (Posthumous) | Freedom Movement |
| 1998 | M. S. Subbulakshmi | Music |
| 1998 | Chidambaram Subramaniam | Agriculture |
| 1999 | Jayaprakash Narayan (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1999 | Amartya Sen | Economics |
| 1999 | Gopinath Bordoloi (Posthumous) | Politics |
| 1999 | Ravi Shankar | Music |
| 2001 | Lata Mangeshkar | Music |
| 2001 | Ustad Bismillah Khan | Music |
| 2009 | Bhimsen Joshi | Music |
| 2014 | Sachin Tendulkar | Sports |
| 2014 | C. N. R. Rao | Science |
| 2015 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Politics |
| 2015 | Madan Mohan Malaviya (Posthumous) | Education |
| 2019 | Pranab Mukherjee | Politics |
| 2019 | Nanaji Deshmukh (Posthumous) | Social Work |
| 2019 | Bhupen Hazarika (Posthumous) | Music |
| 2024 | Karpoori Thakur (Posthumous) | Social Reform |
Most Notable Bharat Ratna Awardees
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar – Architect of the Indian Constitution
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam – Missile Man of India & former President
Mother Teresa – Humanitarian & Nobel Laureate
Sachin Tendulkar – First sportsperson to receive the Bharat Ratna
Nelson Mandela – Only South African recipient