What Are The Benefits Of Winning A Bharat Ratna? Is There Prize Money?

The highest civilian honor in India is the Bharat Ratna. It was established in 1954, and only 48 people have received the award to date, including the three awards announced in 2019. It is given in recognition of outstanding service or performance in any field of human endeavor.

The Process

The Prime Minister makes recommendations to the President for the Bharat Ratna. Although no formal recommendations are required, a number of citizens continue to recommend various individuals for the award. In any given year, the number of awards is limited to a maximum of three.

What does the awardee get?

The recipient of the Bharat Ratna receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India as well as a medallion. The medallion is shaped like a Peepal leaf and measures 5.8 cm long, 4.7 cm wide, and 3.1 mm thick. It's made of bronze-toned metal. On the obverse, a 1.6 cm diameter replica of the sun is embossed, below which the words Bharat Ratna are embossed in Devanagari script. The state emblem and motto, both in Devanagari, are on the reverse. Platinum is used for the emblem, the sun, and the rim. The inscriptions are crafted from burnished bronze. The India Government Mint in Kolkata created this medallion. One Bharat Ratna medal and miniature, along with its box, cost Rs. 2,57,732 in 2014.

Monetary Rewards

Unlike other awards, and contrary to popular belief, the Bharat Ratna Award does not include monetary compensation. Furthermore, the award cannot be prefixed or suffixed to the recipient's name. However, an award recipient may use the following expressions in their biodata/letterhead/visiting card, etc. to indicate that they are the recipient of the award.  Only the phrases 'Awarded Bharat Ratna by the President' and 'Recipient of Bharat Ratna Award' are permitted.

Entitled to a Diplomatic Passport

The Maroon Diplomatic Passport is issued to Indian diplomats, top government officials, and diplomatic couriers. Bharat Ratna recipients are eligible for a diplomatic passport. A diplomatic passport entitles them to a separate immigration counter, access to airport VIP lounges, and so on. Apart from that, the Indian Missions abroad provide them with every possible assistance during their visits abroad.

Placed at 7A in the Table of Procedure

The Ministry of Home Affairs publishes the Table of Precedence, and the order in this table is intended for State and Ceremonial occasions only, with no application to day-to-day government business. Outside their state, Bharat Ratna Awardees are seated 7A above Chief Ministers and Governors of states at such state or ceremonial functions. This order is used in official state functions for protocol.