In pics: Meet the Bharat Ratna awardees in BJP's decade-long rule

The Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, has been posthumously conferred upon former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao. Recognised as a Congress stalwart, he is widely acknowledged for initiating economic reforms in 1991 that dismantled the infamous license raj and catalyzed the country's economic revival.
(ANI photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the posthumous honoring of the late legendary agricultural scientist Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, also known as the father of the 'Green Revolution' in India, with the prestigious Bharat Ratna.
(Agencies photo)

The late Gandhian leader Chaudhari Charan Singh has been posthumously bestowed with the nation's highest civilian honor. Serving as the 5th Prime Minister from July 28, 1979, to Jan 14, 1980, he was originally a Congress member but later established his own political party, Lokdal, in 1980. Revered as the "Champion of India's peasants," Singh is remembered for his contributions to the welfare of farmers.
(Agencies photo)

Veteran BJP politician Lal Krishna Advani has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, coinciding with the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Known for his role in the Babri Masjid demolition, Advani also served as the Union Home Minister from 1998 to 2004. (IANS photo)

Karpoori Thakur is a significant figure in OBC politics, has been posthumously nominated for the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award on the occasion of his birth centenary. Thakur, who passed away in 1988, made history as the first non-Congress socialist leader to serve two terms as chief minister, initially for seven months in December 1970 and later for two years in 1977. (Agencies photo)

Pranab Mukherjee, an Indian politician, served as the 13th President of India from 2012 to 2017. He hailed from West Bengal and became the first individual from the state to hold the esteemed position of President. Before his presidency, Mukherjee served as the finance minister and also held key portfolios in foreign affairs, defense, and commerce throughout his political journey. In 2019, he was honored with the highest-civilian award Bharat Ratna. (Agencies photo)

Bhupen Hazarika, a multi-talented personality from Assam, was renowned for his contributions in the fields of playback singing, lyric writing, music composition, poetry, acting, filmmaking, and politics. He was affectionately known as Sudha Kontho and his soulful melodies resonated with the people of Assam, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. In recognition of his exceptional achievements, he was posthumously awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 2019. (Agencies photo)

Nanaji Deshmukh, an Indian social reformer and politician, was born on October 11, 1916. He dedicated his life to various important causes such as education, health, and rural self-reliance. Recognizing his significant contributions, the Government of India posthumously honored him with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award. (BCCL photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who served as the tenth Prime Minister of India from 1998 to 2004, was awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna by the government led by PM Modi in 2015. He had a political career spanning over five decades as a Member of Parliament, Vajpayee was not only a skilled orator but also a talented poet. His diplomatic abilities were well-known and respected. (IANS photo)

Madan Mohan Malaviya, an Indian scholar, educational reformer, and politician, played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He served as the president of the Indian National Congress on two occasions and was the founder of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. Known as Pandit and Mahamana, he was honored with the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 2015. (Agencies photo)