Nitin Singhania Test: Awards & honours - UPSC MCQ

The title Bharat Ratna literally means 'Jewel of India' and it is the highest civilian award bestowed by the Republic of India. Bharat Ratna is awarded to exceptional individuals who have performed in the highest order. It was first given in 1954. Although this award was originally given to those artists who had outstanding achievements in art, science, literature and public service, but in December 2011, the criteria was expanded to include 'any field of human endeavour'. The Prime Minister of India makes the recommendations to the President of India who chooses not more than three people in a particular year for the award. Although no money is given to the awardees, those who are chosen are given a peepal-leaf shaped medal and a certificate (sanad). According to the Indian Order of Precedence, those who are given Bharat Ratna are ranked seventh. The award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipients name, in terms of Article 18(1) of the Constitution.

Padma Awards: These awards were introduced in 1954 and are being given to deserving individuals for their exceptional services in their chosen fields like Sports, Art, Social work, Civil Service, Literature and Education, Public Affairs, Science and Technology, Trade and Industry, etc. The names of the awardees are announced every year on Republic Day. There are several rules concerning the Padma awards, for example, if someone is a recipient of a lesser degree of the Padma awards, they can be awarded a higher degree of award only after five or more years since the last conferment. Secondly, the awards are rarely given posthumously, but exceptions can be made, if the case highly deserves. Thirdly, there ought to be an element of public service in the achievements of the person to be selected. It should not be merely on the basis of excellence in any field, but it should be based on excellence plus. Fourthly, Government servants including those were doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these awards.

Sahitya Akademi Award: This is an honour given to those who achieve brilliance in literature. This award was institute in 1954 and is given by the 'Sahitya Akademi' that is the National Academy of Letter of our country. It is given annually to those who have achieved literary merit and created new trends by publishing their works, prose or poetry, in any of the 24 major languages recognised by the Akademi. Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, Sahitya Academi has recognised English and Rajasthani as languages in which programmes can be implemented and hence can be considered for the award. The award comprises a cash prize of 1 lakh rupees and a plaque which says 'Sahitya' in the Devanagiri script. The very famous Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray designed the plaque.

First Recipient of the Sahitya Academy Award:
- The Sahitya Academy Award is a prestigious literary honor bestowed upon Indian writers for their outstanding contributions to literature.
- The first recipient of the Sahitya Academy Award was Ramdhari Singh Dinkar.
- Ramdhari Singh Dinkar was an acclaimed Hindi poet, essayist, and academician.
- He received the Sahitya Academy Award in 1959 for his epic poem "Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay," which explores the cultural and historical aspects of Indian civilization.
- Dinkar's poetry often focused on themes of patriotism, social justice, and the power of human will.
- He is considered one of the greatest Hindi poets of the 20th century.
- Dinkar's works continue to inspire and resonate with readers across generations.
- The Sahitya Academy Award has since been awarded to numerous eminent writers in various Indian languages.

Bharat Ratna Recipients

• BR Ambedkar - He was a social reformer, economist, and politician who played a crucial role in drafting the Indian Constitution. He received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1990.


• Indira Gandhi - She was the first female Prime Minister of India and served from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was honored with the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1971.


• Mother Teresa - She was a Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and needy. She received the Bharat Ratna in 1980.

Therefore, the correct answer is D: All of them. BR Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, and Mother Teresa are the recipients of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.

These awards are also given by the Sahitya Akademi. Every year the Akademi chooses writers who have made significant contribution to Indian languages other than the 24 maior languages covered by the Sahitya Akademi award, and also for contribution to classical and medieval literature. The Bhasha Samman comprises a plaque and a cash prize of one lakh twenty thousand rupees. The first Bhasha Sammans were awarded to Sri Dharikshan Mishra for Bhojpuri, Sri Chandra Kanta Mura Singh for Kokborok, Sri Bansi Ram Sharma and Sri M.R. Thakur for Pahari (Himachali), Sri K. Jathappa Rai and Sri Mandara Keshava Bhat for Tulu for their contribution to the development of their respective languages.

Jnanpith Award: It is also known as the Gyanpeeth Award (Seat of Knowledge) and is given for outstanding literary achievement. It was instituted in 1961 by the Bharitya Jnanpith, a trust run by the Jain family famous for founding the newspaper The Times of India. It is given to those Indian citizens who compose literature in one of the 22 languages listed in the Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution and English. Apart from a plaque and a cash prize of 11 lakh rupees, the winner is also given a bronze statue of Goddess Saraswati.

Dada Saheb Phalke Award: Introduced in 1969, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema to commemorate Dada Saheb Phalke (1870-1944), the legendary film-maker who made India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913). It is awarded by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organization set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is given for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. As of 2017, the award comprises a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs.

Saraswati Samman: The Saraswati Samman is an annual award for outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any of the 22 Indian languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Constitution of India. It is named after an Indian goddess of learning and is consdidered to be among the highest literary awards in India.

The Saraswati Samman was instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation. It consits of Rs 15 lakh, a citation and a plaque. Candidates are selected from literary works publised in the previous ten years by a panel that includes scholars and former award winners.

Padma Vibhushan: It is the second highest civilian award given by the Republic of India. Those privileged to get the award are given a citation certificate and a medal, which has a lotus flower in the middle and the words 'Desh Seva', embossed on the obverse. Padma Bhushan: It is the third highest civilian award given by the government of India for those who have contributed to India's reputation in the global scenario. The President of India confers the award in an elaborate ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in March or April. Padma Shri: It is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India and is given by the Government of India for distinguished contribution to various subjects like arts, literature, sports, politics, industry, medicine, social service, etc. The awardee is not given cash but is given a certificate and a medallion with a three-leafed flower on one side and on the obverse Padma (lotus) and Shri (Mr. or Ms.) is written in Devanagiri script.