Bharat Ratna Awarded to Five Eminent Indian Personalities in 2024

In 2024, the Government of India announced five eminent personalities as the receiver of the highest civilian awards of India- the Bharat Ratna Awards. On Friday, PM Narendra Modi announced that the former Prime Ministers of India, PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, and agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan will be awarded this glorious award. Earlier, the former chief minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, and politician and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani were announced as the recipients of the Bharat Ratna. 

Chaudhury Charan Singh served as the fifth prime minister of India in 1979. His tenure only lasted 170 days, however in his brief serving period he dedicated his life to the betterment of the nation’s farmers. He also served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh twice. 

Former PM PV Narasimha Rao served as the 10th Indian Prime Minster from June 1991 to May 1996. He led the nation into an era of economic reforms. Before becoming the PM, he also served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. In his tweet, PM Narendra Modi described Narasimha Rao as a “distinguished scholar and statesman” whose tenure “was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets.”

MS Swaminathan, an esteemed agricultural scientist, was named “Father of the Green Revolution” in India. During the 19760s-70s, he introduced many changes in the sector of Indian farming that allowed our nation to achieve food security. 

Politician Lal Krishna Advani served as India’s 7th deputy prime minister from 2002 to 2004. He is remembered as a visionary leader who was one of the co-founders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 

The achievements and contributions of the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpuri Thakur have been discussed in a previously posted article. 

This year, five people received the Bharat Ratna award, which is the highest number awarded in a single year, surpassing the four awarded in 1999.