BHARAT RATNA

Bharat Ratna is the highest national award given for exceptional work for advancement of art, literature and science or in recognition of public service of the highest order.

Recipients of Bharat Ratna

eature : The decoration is the form of a Peepal leaf, 2 inch long, 1-1/8inch in width and 1/2 inch thick, toned in bronze. On the obverse side is embossed a replica of the sun, below which the words ‘Bharat Ratna’ are embossed in Hindi. On the reverse are the State Emblem and a motto in Hindi. The emblem, the sun and rim are made of platinum.

Discontinuation of the Award : The award was discontinued by the Janta Government (Prime Minister Morarji Desai on July 13, 1977, and those who received the award in the past were informed that they would not be allowed to use it as a title).

Revival of the Award : In January 1980 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to revive this award. After the revival, Mother Teresa was the first recipient.

PADMA AWARDS

Padma Awards fall next in line after the Bharat Ratna as national awards. They were also discontinued in 1977 along with the Bharat Ratna and revived again in 1980. There are three Padma awards, viz,

• Padma Vibhushan is the second highest national award, given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field including services rendered by government employees.
• Padma Bhushan is the third highest national award given for distinguished service in any field.
• Padma Shri is the fourth highest award given for distinguished service in any field.

GALLANTRY AWARDS

Param Vir Chakra : The Param Vir Chakra is the highest decoration of valour awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some act of valour (in self-sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal is made of bronze.

Mahavir Chakra : Mahavir Chakra is the second highest gallantry award for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal is made of standard silver.

Vir Chakra : Vir Charka is awarded for acts of gallantry in the presence of enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. The medal is made of standard silver.

Ashok Chakra : It is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy. The medal is made of gold gilt.

Kirti Chakra : It is awarded for conspicuous gallantry, otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The medal is made of standard silver.

JAMNALAL BAJAJ AWARDS

In 1976, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was established for promoting Gandhian constructive programmes and assisting constructive workers who devoted themselves to the national cause. The foundation has instituted four annual awards, each carrying a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, a citation and a trophy. The awards are intended to recognise outstanding contribution in :

• Constructive work

• Application of science and technology for rural development

• Upliftment and welfare of women and children and/or Gandhian constructive work by women workers

• Promotion of Gandhian values outside India by individuals other than Indian citizens.

On the occasion of the Jamnalal Bajaj Birth Centenary, the foundation conferred on Dr. Nelson Mandela, a Special Award of Rs.5,00,000, a citation and a specially sculptured trophy. It was presented on 18 October 1990, at a special function held in Raj Bhavan, Calcutta, by the Governor of West Bengal and in the presence of Shri Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The foundation has undertaken several rural development programmes in the Wardha district, Maharashtra, Kheri district and Shikohabad near Ferozabad in Uttar Pradesh. It also extends financial assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in social and welfare programmes.

DADA SAHEB PHALKE AWARD

Instituted in 1970, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award is awarded by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the cause of cinema. The award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the father of Indian cinema, who made India’s first feature film Raja Harischandra in 1913.The award comprises a Swarna Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000 and a shawl. The award was first given to Devika Rani in 1969, who became the first lady recipient of the award. Prithviraj Kapoor was the first to be honoured posthumously with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award.

GOLDEN PEACOCK AWARDS

These awards have been instituted by the Institute of Directors in 1991 have given boost to Indian Industry. One can fairly assert that India’s manufacturing success today is to a great measure due to the learning experience provided by the self assessment model on which the Golden Peacock Award is based. The Golden Peacock Awards are now considered as the holy grail of corporate excellence and its guidelines provide a checklist for improvement and self-assessment in areas of quality, innovation, training, governance, environment management and corporate social responsibility.

All institutions whether public, private, non-profit, government, business, manufacturing and service sector are eligible to apply. Leadership Awards are determined through nomination. They provide not only worldwide recognition and prestige but also a competitive advantage in driving business in this tumultuous world under Golden Peacock-award models. The awards are bestowed annually and are designed to encourage total improvement in each sector of business.

RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD

It was launched in the year 1991-92 with the objective of honouring sports persons to enhance their dignity and place of honour in society. Under this, an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs is given as award for the most spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by an individual sports person or a team.

ARJUNA AWARD

This award is given to a sportsman who has displayed outstanding performance for three years (prior to the year of award) both at national and international levels.

DRONACHARYA AWARD

The award was named after Dronacharya–the legendary guru of the epic age of Mahabharat, who taught archery and sports to Kauravas and Pandavas.
The award comprises fo a cheque, a plaque, a blazer and a citation. Up to 1986, the cash value of the award was Rs. 25,000.

DHYAN CHAND AWARD

The objective of Dhyan Chand Award is to honour those sports persons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute in promotion of sports even after retirement from their active sporting career. This award carries an amount of Rs. 5 lakhs.

MAULANA KALAM AZAD TROPHY

This Trophy is awarded annually to the University which has given the best and all round performance in sports activities during the year of the award. The winner receives a replica of the Trophy and cash award of Rs. 2 lakhs, which is to be utilized for acquiring sports equipments.

TENZING NORGAY NATIONAL ADVENTURE AWARD

These awards are given to recognize the contribution and performance in the field of adventure sports in air, water and on land. One award is given for lifetime achievement in the field of adventure sports. This is the first time that these awards are being conferred by the President of India. These awards have now been equated with the Arjuna awards in all respects. The award carries cash prize of Rs. 3 lakhs.

SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD

It is awarded for outstanding literary works and comprises a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 in each of the 22 languages that it supports, and a copper plaque.

SHANTI SWAROOP BHATNAGAR PRIZES

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes are awarded annually by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to outstanding Indian research workers in seven disciplines of Science and Technology. The SSB Prizes are awarded to scientists for their outstanding scientific contributions made primarily in India during last 5 years preceeding the year of the award are eligible for the Prize. The SSB Prize comprising a citation, a plaque and a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh is given to each selected person.

SHAHEED NIYOGI MEMORIAL AWARD FOR JOURNALISM

The award was instituted in 1998 to recognise the contribution of Journalists in upholding the legacy of Shanker Guja Niyogi, the firebrand trade union leader and social activist from Chhattisgarh, who was murdered on September 28, 1991 by the industrial mafia.

CSIR YOUNG SCIENTISTS AWARD

These awards are given for outstanding contributions made by young CSIR scientists based on, work done primarily in India. It carries a grant of Rs. 10 lakh spread over five years, for pursuing a research project independently.

SARASWATI SAMMAN

The award is given by K.K. Birla Foundation to an outstanding author for their literary work in any Indian language mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and published during the last 10 years. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh.

CHAMELI DEVI AWARD

Endowed by Ms. Laxmi Jain in the memory of her mohter, Chameli Devi Jain, the award goes to a woman journalist on the basis of excellence in terms of writing style, content as well as social concerns.

BORLAUG AWARD

It is also known as Noble Prize for Food and Agriculture. The Borlaug award has been instituted by the Coromandal Fertilizer to honour Dr. Norman Borlaug, who brought about the Green Revolution in India. This ward is presented for outstanding contributions in the field of agriculture.

PRIME MINISTER’S SHRAM AWARD

The objective of the Prime Minister’s Shram Award is to recognize the outstanding contribution made by workmen as defined in the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, in organisations both in public and private sector and who have distinguished record of performance, devotion to duty of a high order, specific contribution in the field of productivity, proven innovative abilities, presence of mind and exceptional courage and also to the workmen, who have made supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives in the conscientious discharge of their duties.

JNANPITH AWARD

Field : Literature
Instituted in : 1965
Cash Value : Rs. 5 lakh, a citation and a Vagdevi statue

Awarded to outstanding authors of creative literature in any of the Indian languages recognised by the Constitution of India. It was sponsored by the Bharatiya Jnanpith a culturo-literary society, founded in 1944 by Shanti Prasad Jain, an eminent industrialist.
First recipient : G. Sankara Kurup (Kerala)
First women recipient : Ashapoorna Devi (Calcutta)

The earlier winners of Jnanpith Award created by Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain in 1963 for promoting outstanding literary works in regional languages, include Mahadevi Verma, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Girish Karnad, Amrita Pritam, U.R. Ananthamurthy and Quarratulain Hyder. So far there have been 39 recipients of this award.