National Awards - ExamsPrepArena

🇮🇳 Civilian Awards (1–20)

Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian award.

Instituted

It was instituted in 1954.

Purpose

Awarded for exceptional service in art, literature, science, and public service.

Eligibility

It is not limited to Indian citizens (e.g., Nelson Mandela).

Monetary Grant

Award carries no monetary grant, only a certificate and medallion.

First Recipients

First Bharat Ratna recipients (1954): C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Radhakrishnan, C.V. Raman.

Total Recipients

As of 2023, 48 individuals have received the Bharat Ratna.

Last Awarded

Last awarded in 2019 to Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika.

Padma Awards

Padma Awards are given in 3 categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri.

Padma Vibhushan

Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award.

Padma Vibhushan Instituted

Instituted in 1954; awarded for exceptional service.

Padma Bhushan

Padma Bhushan is the third-highest.

Padma Shri

Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian honor.

Announcement

Announced every year on Republic Day (26 January).

2024 Padma Awards

In 2024, 132 people received Padma awards.

Posthumous Awards

Awards can be given posthumously.

Dadasaheb Phalke

Dadasaheb Phalke received Bharat Ratna in 1969 (100 years after birth).

Famous Recipients

Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee are Bharat Ratna awardees.

Politicians

Maximum Bharat Ratna awards have gone to politicians.

Titles

Civilian awards cannot be used as titles.

Gallantry Awards

Param Vir Chakra

Highest military decoration. For acts of valour in presence of enemy. First recipient: Major Somnath Sharma (1947). Latest: Captain Vikram Batra (1999, posthumous).

Maha Vir Chakra

Second highest military decoration. For acts of conspicuous gallantry. 2023 recipient: Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu (posthumous).

Vir Chakra

Third highest military decoration. For acts of gallantry in presence of enemy. 2023 recipients: Major Anil Urs, Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey.

Ashoka Chakra

Highest peacetime gallantry award. For most conspicuous bravery. 2023 recipient: Major Anil Urs (posthumous).

Literary Awards

Jnanpith Award

Highest literary honor. Instituted in 1961. 2023 recipient: Damodar Mauzo (Konkani). Cash prize: ₹11 lakh.

Sahitya Akademi Award

National literary honor. For outstanding works in 24 languages. 2023 recipients: 24 writers including Anamika (Hindi), K Satchidanandan (Malayalam).

Vyasa Samman

For outstanding Hindi literary work. 2023 recipient: Leeladhar Jagudi. Cash prize: ₹4 lakh.

Saraswati Samman

For outstanding prose or poetry in any Indian language. 2023 recipient: Sivasankari (Tamil). Cash prize: ₹15 lakh.

Film Awards

Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Highest film honor. 2023 recipient: Waheeda Rehman. Cash prize: ₹10 lakh, Swarna Kamal, and shawl.

National Film Awards

Best Feature Film 2023: 'RRR' (Telugu). Best Actor: Allu Arjun. Best Actress: Alia Bhatt. Best Director: Nikhil Mahajan.

Filmfare Awards

2024 Best Film: '12th Fail'. Best Actor: Vikrant Massey. Best Actress: Alia Bhatt. Best Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

IIFA Awards

2023 Best Film: 'Gangubai Kathiawadi'. Best Actor: Hrithik Roshan. Best Actress: Alia Bhatt. Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Sports Awards

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna

Highest sports honor. 2023 recipients: Neeraj Chopra, R Praggnanandhaa. Cash prize: ₹25 lakh.

Arjuna Award

For outstanding performance in sports. 2023 recipients: 26 athletes including Rohan Bopanna, Parul Chaudhary. Cash prize: ₹15 lakh.

Dronacharya Award

For outstanding coaches. 2023 recipients: 5 coaches including Ganesh Prabhakaran (Boxing). Cash prize: ₹15 lakh.

Dhyan Chand Award

For lifetime achievement in sports. 2023 recipients: 3 athletes including Manjusha Kanwar (Badminton). Cash prize: ₹10 lakh.

Science & Technology Awards

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize

For science and technology. 2023 recipients: 12 scientists including Dr. Debashish Chowdhury (Physical Sciences). Cash prize: ₹5 lakh.

Vigyan Ratna

For lifetime achievement in science. 2023 recipient: Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar. Cash prize: ₹10 lakh.

INSA Young Scientist Award

For young scientists. 2023 recipients: 15 scientists. Cash prize: ₹50,000.

National Technology Award

For technological innovation. 2023 recipient: ISRO's Gaganyaan team. Cash prize: ₹25 lakh.

Social Service Awards

Gandhi Peace Prize

For social, economic and political transformation. 2023 recipient: Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Cash prize: ₹1 crore.

Ramon Magsaysay Award

Asian equivalent of Nobel Prize. 2023 recipient: Dr. Ravi Kannan (Healthcare). Cash prize: $50,000.

Jamnalal Bajaj Award

For constructive work. 2023 recipient: Dr. Prakash Amte (Healthcare). Cash prize: ₹10 lakh.

Indira Gandhi Prize

For peace, disarmament and development. 2023 recipient: Indian Medical Association. Cash prize: ₹25 lakh.

Arts & Culture Awards

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Highest recognition in performing arts. 2023 recipients: 94 artists. Cash prize: ₹1 lakh.

Kalidas Samman

For classical arts. 2023 recipient: Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (Music). Cash prize: ₹5 lakh.

Tulsi Samman

For contribution to Hindi literature. 2023 recipient: Dr. Namvar Singh. Cash prize: ₹3 lakh.

Tagore Award

For cultural harmony. 2023 recipient: Pt. Birju Maharaj (posthumous). Cash prize: ₹1 crore.