| Bharat Ratna Award Winner |
| Year | winner name | Description |
| 1954 | Chakraborty Rajagopalachari | The last Governor-General of independent India, C Rajagopalachari was a freedom fighter, politician and founder of the Swatantra Party. He was honored for his contribution to Indian politics and literature. |
| Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | The distinguished philosopher and second President of India, Radhakrishnan was celebrated for his profound scholarship and contributions to Indian education. His birthday is celebrated as Teachers' Day in India. |
| Dr. CV Raman | Winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of the Raman effect, Raman's work in the field of light scattering has been recognized globally. His research laid the foundation for Indian scientific progress. |
| 1955 | Dr. Bhagwan Das | A philosopher, freedom fighter and educationist, Das was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. His contribution to Indian education and philosophy earned him this honour. |
| Dr. M Visvesvaraya | An eminent engineer and politician, Visvesvaraya's contribution to the field of engineering and education in India is unforgettable. He designed the famous Krishnaraja Sagar Dam of Mysore. |
| Pandit jawaharlal nehru | The first Prime Minister of independent India, Nehru's vision for a secular, modern India was crucial in shaping the newly independent nation. His policies laid the foundation for India's socio-economic development. |
| 1957 | Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant | A prominent figure in India's freedom struggle and a prominent political leader, Pant's contributions to the creation of the Indian Republic were significant, including his tenure as Home Minister. |
| 1958 | Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve | A social reformer and teacher, Karve dedicated her life to the empowerment of women through education, and founded the first women's university in India. |
| 1961 | Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy | An eminent physician, freedom fighter and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Roy made notable contributions to public health and education. |
| Purushottam Das Tandon | A freedom fighter and advocate of the Hindi language, Tandon played an important role in the Indian independence movement and the promotion of Hindi as an official language of India. |
| 1962 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and the Constituent Assembly. His leadership and vision helped shape the Indian Republic. |
| 1963 | Dr. Zakir Hussain | A distinguished teacher and the third President of India, Hussain's contributions to Indian education are celebrated. He founded the National Muslim University, known as Jamia Millia Islamia. |
| Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane | A Sanskrit scholar and Indologist, Kane's monumental work on the “History of Dharmashastra” is considered an important contribution to Indian legal and cultural history. |
| 1966 | Lal Bahadur Shastri (posthumously) | The second Prime Minister of India, Shastri was known for his leadership during the India-Pakistan War of 1965 and his slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, which resonated deeply among the Indian public. |
| 1971 | Indira Gandhi | India's first and to date only female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, witnessed significant political and social changes under her leadership. |
| 1975 | VV Giri | An advocate of labor rights and the fourth President of India, Giri's contributions to Indian labor law and administration were significant. |
| 1976 | K Kamaraj (posthumous) | A prominent figure in Indian politics and the Indian independence movement, Kamaraj's leadership in the Indian National Congress and his role in the “Kamaraj Plan” played a significant role in reviving the party after independence. |
| 1980 | mother Teresa | An icon of compassion and service to the poor and sick, Mother Teresa's work through the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata brought her international fame. |
| 1983 | Acharya Vinoba Bhave | A spiritual successor to Mahatma Gandhi and initiator of the Bhoodan movement, Bhave worked tirelessly for land reform and non-violent resistance. |
| 1987 | Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan | A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Ghaffar Khan was a Pashtun independence activist who opposed British rule through non-violent means. He was known as “Frontier Gandhi”. |
| 1988 | MG Ramachandran (posthumous) | A film actor turned politician, MGR's contribution to the development and welfare schemes of Tamil Nadu as Chief Minister left a lasting impact. |
| 1990 | Dr. BR Ambedkar (posthumously) | The architect of the Indian Constitution, Ambedkar was a warrior for social justice, advocating the rights of the marginalized and working towards the eradication of caste discrimination. |
| Nelson Mandela | A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist, Mandela's efforts to end apartheid and promote racial reconciliation earned him global recognition. |
| 1991 | Rajiv Gandhi (posthumously) | India's youngest Prime Minister, Gandhi's tenure was marked by efforts to lead India into the information age and significant economic and technological progress. |
| Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (posthumously) | Known as the “Iron Man of India”, Patel played a key role in the country's struggle for independence and the subsequent integration of the princely states into the Indian Union. |
| Morarji Desai | An important leader in the Indian independence movement and the fourth Prime Minister of India, Desai was known as a leader who promoted peace and non-violence. |
| 1992 | Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (posthumous) | A senior leader in the Indian independence movement and the first Education Minister of India, Azad's contribution in establishing an educational foundation in India is unparalleled. |
| J R D Tata | An aviator and industrialist, Tata founded India's first airline and was a pioneer in the Indian aviation and industrial sector, leading the Tata Group to new heights. |
| Satyajit Ray | An acclaimed filmmaker, Ray's contribution to Indian cinema is legendary, with his work receiving international recognition including an Oscar and shaping the story of Indian filmmaking. |
| 1997 | Gulzarilal Nanda | Acting Prime Minister of India on two occasions, Nanda's political career was marked by his dedication to labor issues and economic policies. |
| Aruna Asif Ali | A freedom fighter best known for hoisting the Indian national flag at the Bombay Gowalia Tank Ground during the Quit India Movement, Ali was a prominent figure in India's struggle for independence. |
| Dr APJ Abdul Kalam | Known as the “Missile Man of India”, Kalam's work as a scientist and his presidency were marked by his commitment to education and inspiring the youth of India. |
| nineteen ninety eight | MS Subbulakshmi | A Carnatic singer, Subbulakshmi's contribution to Indian classical music was profound, with her performances around the world bringing Indian music to international audiences. |
| chidambaram subramaniam | Known for his role in India's Green Revolution, Subramaniam's agricultural policies and initiatives significantly improved India's food security and agricultural practices. |
| 1999 | Jaiprakash Narayan (posthumous) | A freedom fighter and political leader, Narayan played an important role in the Indian independence movement and later in the fight against corruption through the “Total Revolution” movement. |
| Professor Amartya Sen | A Nobel laureate in economics, Sen's work on welfare economics and social choice theory has had a profound impact on development economics around the world. |
| Popular Gopinath Bordoloi (posthumous) | A leading figure in the Indian independence movement and the first Chief Minister of Assam, Bordoloi's efforts were important in keeping Assam united with India. |
| Pandit Ravi Shankar | An excellent sitar player and composer, Shankar's role in bringing Indian classical music to the global stage is unique, influencing many musicians around the world. |
| 2001 | Lata Mangeshkar | Lata Mangeshkar's voice, popularly known as “Nightingale of India”, has been iconic in Indian music. The legendary artiste recorded songs in more than a thousand Hindi films and various regional languages. |
| Ustad Bismillah Khan | A master of the shehnai, Khan's music crossed cultural boundaries, made significant contributions to Indian classical music and brought the shehnai to a global audience. |
| 2009 | Pandit Bhimsen Joshi | A towering figure of Indian classical music, Joshi's khayal and rendition of bhajans have left an indelible mark on the genre, earning him widespread acclaim. |
| 2014 | Professor CNR Rao | A renowned scientist and expert in solid-state and materials chemistry, Rao's extensive research and publications have made significant contributions to the field of chemical sciences. |
| Sachin Tendulkar | One of the greatest cricketers of all time, Tendulkar's records including most runs scored in international cricket have made him a global sporting icon. |
| 2015 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | A politician and poet, Vajpayee's tenure as Prime Minister of India was marked by economic reforms and efforts towards improving India–Pakistan relations. |
| Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumous) | An educator and independence activist, Malaviya's role in establishing Banaras Hindu University was important in promoting higher education in India. |
| 2019 | Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous) | A social worker and politician, Deshmukh's contribution to rural development and education in India through various initiatives and institutions has been transformative. |
| Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (posthumous) | A cultural icon in Assam and across India, Hazarika's music and songs, reflecting social and political themes, have deeply influenced the cultural landscape. |
| Pranab Mukherjee | Serving as the 13th President of India, Mukherjee's distinguished career in Indian politics spanned several decades, making significant contributions to national development and governance. |
| 2024 | Karpuri Thakur (posthumous) | Thakur was a prominent political leader of Bihar, known for his dedication to social justice and empowerment of the underprivileged. |
| Lal Krishna Advani | Advani is an experienced politician, who has been playing an important role in the development of Indian politics and the Bharatiya Janata Party. He is known for his role in the Maan Janmabhoomi movement. |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumously) | The fifth Prime Minister of India, Chaudhary Charan Singh was a brilliant parliamentarian, best known as the chief architect of land reforms in Uttar Pradesh, the state he twice led as Chief Minister. |
| PV Narasimha Rao (posthumous) | Former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao is remembered for the liberal reforms he introduced in India's economy during his reign. |
| Dr. MS Swaminathan (posthumous) | Revered agricultural scientist, Dr. MS Swaminathan is known as the 'Father of the Green Revolution' in India and is remembered for his contribution towards agriculture and farmers' welfare. |
