BHARAT RATNA

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.

• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in
any field of human endeavour.
• Bharat Ratna is not a title under Article 18. Clause 1 of article 18 covers
exceptions like academic or military titles. Awards like Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri etc.
can be given to the citizens for exceptional and distinguished services rendered in art,
literature, science and other fields.

• In the case of Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India, AIR 1996, the court said that
National awards aren’t titles under clause 1 of Article 18. The court asked for
setting up guidelines while giving these awards as they are highly respected.
• It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat
Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
• The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a
particular year.