National Civilian Awards — Bharat Ratna & Padma Awards

Bharat Ratna

India's highest civilian award, instituted on 2 January 1954. Originally restricted to art, literature, science and public service; the eligibility criteria were widened in December 2011 to "any field of human endeavour," bringing sport within scope. Shaped like a peepal leaf in toned bronze, with the sun and the motto "Bharat Ratna" embossed on the obverse and the State Emblem with the national motto on the reverse. Not usually more than three are awarded in a year, though this convention has occasionally been exceeded (five in 1999, and again in 2024). It carries no monetary grant and is conferred by the President.

• First recipients (1954): C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Dr. C. V. Raman.
• Foreign/naturalised recipients: Mother Teresa (1980), Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987, Pakistan), Nelson Mandela (1990, South Africa).
• Sachin Tendulkar (2014) is the youngest recipient (age 40) and the first sportsperson to receive it.
• 2019: Bhupen Hazarika, Nanaji Deshmukh, Pranab Mukherjee.
• 2024: Karpoori Thakur, L. K. Advani, Chaudhary Charan Singh, P. V. Narasimha Rao, M. S. Swaminathan.

Padma Awards

Announced every year on the eve of Republic Day (25/26 January) in three descending tiers:

Fields recognised include art, social work, public affairs, science & engineering, trade & industry, medicine, literature & education, sports and civil service. The 2026 Padma Awards named 131 total awardees — 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri — including cricketer Rohit Sharma, actor Mammootty, singer Alka Yagnik and banker Uday Kotak.