The Bharat Ratna
It is the highest civilian award of India. It is presented by the Government of India.
It is presented for exceptional public service and rarest achievements in the field of art, literature and science.
It was instituted in 1954 .
The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were politician C. Rajagopalachari, philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and scientist C. V. Raman, who were honoured in 1954.
The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the government expanded the criteria to include “any field of human endeavour” in December 2011
Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
Padma Vibhushan
It is the second highest civilian honour for distinguished services in any field including Government service.
Instituted on 2 January 1954
This award is given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field including service rendered by Government servants. It is classified into three kinds:
1. Pehla Varg;
2. Dusra Varg;
3. Tisra Varg.
As of 2015, the award has been bestowed on 284 individuals, including 5 posthumous and 18 non-citizen recipients.
The first recipients of the award were Satyendra Nath Bose, Nand Lal Bose, Zakir Hussain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, and V. K. Krishna Menon, who were honoured in 1954.
Padma Bhushan
It is a decoration established on 2 January 1954 by the president of India. It is the third highest civilian awards
This award is given for distinguished service of high order in any field including service rendered by Government servants.
As of December 2015, 1230 people have thus far received the award.
In 2013 the veteran playback singer Mrs.S. Janaki rejected the award, stating that the honour came to her too late
The Padma Shri
This award is given for distinguished service in any field including service rendered by the Government servants.
Param Vir Chakra
It is India’s highest award for bravery for officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of velour of self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air. It was introduced on 26th January 1950.
Maha Vir Chakra
It is the second highest decoration and is awarded for the act of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air.
Vir Chakra
It is the third highest gallantry award.
Ashok Chakra
It is the highest peace-time gallantry award.
It is an Indian military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
It is the peace time equivalent of the Param Vir Chakra