Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position or gender.
The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the Government of India expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in December 2011.
The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President.
The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award.
Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
First Recipient
The first Bharat Ratna was awarded to politician C. Rajagopalachari, philosopher Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and scientist C. V. Raman in the year 1954.
Oldest Recipient
Dhondo Keshav Karve, popularity known as Maharshi Karve, was the oldest person to receive the Bharat Ratna award. He was a social reformer and was awarded on his 100th birthday in 1958.
Youngest Recipient
The youngest Bharat Ratna recipient in India is Sachin Tendulkar who received this award in the year 2014 when he was 40 years old. He is one of the finest Indian cricketers of all time and is considered as God of Cricket.
Only Industrialist Recipient
Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata was an Indian aviator, industrialist, entrepreneur and chairman of Tata group. He is the only industrialist to win the prestigious Bharat Ratna till date. He received the award in 1992 for his humanitarian work.
Non-Indian Recipient
While the award is not reserved only for the Indians, only two non-Indians have received it so far --- Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan or Frontier Gandhi of Pakistan in 1987 and Nelson Mandela of South Africa in 1990.
