Bharat Ratna award: President Droupadi Murmu confers highest civilian honour on 5 luminaries

President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Bharat Ratna to five luminaries, including former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, along with BJP veteran LK Advani, agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, posthumously. The winners were hounoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday except LK Advani who was honoured at his residence on Sunday. (Photo: IANS)

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna on former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao (posthumously). Rao's son PV Prabhakar Rao accepted the honour from the President.

Rao, who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996 and often known as the 'Chanakya of Indian politics' is renowned for initiating economic reforms and demonstrating adept political maneuvering.(PTI Photo)

Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur (posthumously) was awarded the highest civilian award. Thakur's son Ram Nath Thakur accepted the honour from the President.

Karpoori Thakur, known as the 'jannayak' (people's leader), served as Bihar's chief minister twice, advocating for the marginalized. Born into the Nai Samaj, he championed OBC politics and fought against social discrimination. Thakur's tenure focused on affirmative action, offering opportunities to the disadvantaged. His policies, notably implementing quotas for backward classes, brought significant changes in education, employment, and farmer welfare. (PTI Photo)

The Bharat Ratna was awarded to agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan (posthumously) during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi. Swaminathan's daughter Nitya Rao accepted the honour from the President.

M S Swaminathan, an esteemed agricultural scientist, is renowned for revolutionizing India's agricultural landscape. Alongside Norman Borlaug, he introduced high-yielding rice and wheat varieties, pivotal in making India self-sufficient in food production by 1971 which earned him the inaugural World Food Prize in 1987.(PTI photo)

The award conferred on former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumously) accepted by Singh's grandson Jayant Chaudhary.

Chaudhary Charan Singh was a prominent Jat leader from western Uttar Pradesh who served as PM from July 28, 1979, to January 14, 1980. Singh was known for his role in implementing land reforms in Uttar Pradesh and for his strict stance against inefficiency, nepotism, and corruption in administration. He served as CM of Uttar Pradesh and was admired for his dedication to social justice and his support among peasants. (PTI photo)

The honour to BJP veteran former deputy prime minister LK Advani was conferred at his residence.

Born in Karachi, which is now in present-day Pakistan, Advani holds the distinction of serving as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the longest duration since its establishment in 1980. Concluding a parliamentary tenure spanning almost three decades, he held significant roles as the Home Minister and subsequently as the Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1999-2004). (Photo: ANI)