Explore the comprehensive list of 2024 Bharat Ratna Award winners, highlighting 5 remarkable individuals and their noteworthy contributions.
On February 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the prestigious Bharat Ratna would be bestowed upon former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan.
The five individuals honoured this year exceed the four recipients in 1999, marking the highest number of Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year.
Additionally, the esteemed recognition will be granted to politician and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur and politician and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani.
This year’s announcement of five recipients surpasses the four individuals honoured in 1999, marking the highest number of Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year.
Bharat Ratna Award 2024 Winners List
The table below illustrates the list of five individuals honoured with the Bharat Ratna this year:
| Name | Title | State | Field | Honorary Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karpoori Thakur (Posthumous) | Former (11th) Chief Minister of Bihar | Bihar | Socialist leader | Popularly known as Jan Nayak (people’s hero) |
| Lal Krishna Advani | Former (7th) Deputy Prime Minister | Delhi | Indian Politician | One of the co-founders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
| Pamulaparthi Venkata (P. V.) Narasimha Rao (Posthumous) | Former (9th) Prime Minister | Telangana (Present Day) | Indian lawyer and Politician | Former PM Manmohan Singh described Rao as the true father of economic reforms in India. |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh (Posthumous) | Former Prime Minister | Uttar Pradesh | Jat leader, Indian politician and a freedom fighter | He is often hailed by historians and the public alike as the “Champion of India’s peasants.” |
| Mankombu Sambasivan (M. S.) Swaminathan (Posthumous) | Agronomist | Tamil Nadu | Indian Agronomist, Agricultural Scientist, Plant Geneticist | Father of Green Revolution |
Crucial Highlights of the 5 Distinguished Bharat Ratna Awardees
Karpoori Thakur (Posthumous)
- Karpoori Thakur was a prominent Indian politician who served two terms as the 11th Chief Minister of Bihar.
- His first term extended from December 1970 to June 1971, and his second term spanned from June 1977 to April 1979.
- Widely recognized as Jan Nayak (people’s hero), he left a lasting impact on the people.
- On 26 January 2024, the Government of India posthumously conferred upon him India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.
- Karpoori Thakur will become the 49th recipient of this prestigious award.
Lal Krishna Advani
- Indian politician, co-founder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) (right-wing Hindu nationalist organization).
- Served as 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India (2002-2004).
- Held the longest tenure as Minister of Home Affairs (1998-2004) and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
- BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in the 2009 general election.
- On 3 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Advani would be honoured with India’s highest civilian award.
Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (Posthumous)
- P. V. Narasimha Rao was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.
- He is renowned for introducing significant liberal reforms to India’s economy.
- He was the second individual from a non-Hindi-speaking region (Telugu) and the first from South India (United Andhra Pradesh) to hold this office.
- Rao played a key role in dismantling the License Raj, a significant shift in economic policy that reversed the approach taken by the government of Rajiv Gandhi.
- The late former Prime Minister, who passed away in 2004, will be posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, as announced by Prime Minister Modi on 9 February.
Chaudhary Charan Singh (Posthumous)
- Indian politician, freedom fighter, and prominent Jat leader hailing from western Uttar Pradesh.
- Served as the 5th Prime Minister of India and 5th Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
- Followed Mahatma Gandhi in non-violent struggle for independence.
- Founded his political party Lokdal.
- Known as the “Champion of India’s peasants.”
- He gained prominence for playing a crucial role in leading anti-Congress politics at a time when the party wielded significant influence.
Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan (Posthumous)
- Indian agronomist, agricultural scientist, and humanitarian.
- Father of the Green Revolution in India, credited with saving India and Pakistan from famine in the 1960s.
- Developed high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice.
- Collaborated with Norman Borlaug (Father of the Green Revolution in the World) and spearheaded a mass movement with farmers and scientists.
- First recipient of the World Food Prize (1987).
- Known as the “Father of Economic Ecology”.
- The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, was awarded in 2024 (posthumously).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In 2024, five individuals were honoured with the Bharat Ratna, setting a historical record as the highest number awarded in a single year since the establishment of the award in 1954.
53 individuals as of 2024
Satyajit Ray
No official explanation has been given, but it could be due to a desire to recognize a wider range of contributions or mark a significant occasion.
• P.V. Narasimha Rao (Posthumously): Former Prime Minister known for economic reforms.
• Chaudhary Charan Singh (Posthumously): Former Prime Minister and advocate for farmers.
• M.S. Swaminathan (Posthumously): Agricultural scientist credited with the Green Revolution in India.
• Karpoori Thakur (Posthumously): Former Bihar Chief Minister and socialist leader.
• Lal Krishna Advani (Living): Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader.
Source:
- Wikipedia of the 5 awardees
- Livemint
