New Delhi: The Bharat Ratna awards are typically limited to a maximum of three recipients in a given year. However, in 1999, it was bestowed upon four individuals, and this time around, five people have been honored so far. The recent decision to confer the Bharat Ratna on PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh and MS Swaminathan has brought the total number of recipients of this prestigious civilian award to 53.

In the year 2019, Pranab Mukherjee, along with posthumous awards to Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh, contributed to the Bharat Ratna count. Notably, the award was not presented to anyone between 2020 and 2023.

Established in 1954 by the Government of India, the Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honor, acknowledging outstanding contributions across various sectors. The awards include the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan. Initially categorized as first, second and third class, the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padmashree titles were later adopted through a Presidential Notification on January 8, 1955.

Recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, and no formal recommendation is required for this esteemed award. While traditionally limited to three recipients per year, instances of four individuals being honored occurred in 1999, and this time, five individuals have received the award.

Throughout the years, the Bharat Ratna has been presented to three individuals in certain years, such as 2019, 1997, 1992, 1991, 1955, and 1954. Two recipients were honored in years like 2015, 2014, 2001, 1998, 1990, 1963, and 1961. There were also instances when the award was not conferred upon anyone.

In its inaugural year, the Bharat Ratna was awarded to C. Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and Chandrashekhar Venkataraman. Eminent personalities who have received this honor in the past include Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Hussain, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, B.R. Ambedkar, Nelson Mandela, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Sachin Tendulkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and others.

Notable figures like Bhagwan Das, M. Visvesvaraya, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, and many more have also been recipients of the Bharat Ratna.