Bharat Ratna 2024 Winners: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, will be awarded to former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, as well as the Father of the Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan, posthumously.
This marks the first time since 1999 that more than three individuals are receiving the Bharat Ratna in a single year. Earlier, PM Modi had announced Bharat Ratna awards for BJP stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, as well as former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur.
In three separate tweets on Friday, PM Narendra Modi announced the Bharat Ratna awards and highlighted the contributions of these luminaries.
Bharat Ratna To PV Narasimha Rao
PM Modi took to X and said, "Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna."
"As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country's prosperity and growth," the Prime Minister said.
"Narasimha Rao Garu’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India's foreign policy, language and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage," he further stated.
Bharat Ratna To Chaudhary Charan Singh
PM Modi in a post on X said that former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh will also be honoured with Bharat Ratna. He hailed Singh and said that his contribution to the country is incomparable and he always gave impetus to nation-building.
"It is the good fortune of our government that former Prime Minister of the country Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honored with Bharat Ratna. This honor is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country and even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation," PM Modi said.
MS Swaminathan Gets Bharat Ratna
In a post on X, PM Modi announced that Bharat Ratna will be conferred on MS Swaminathan. The Prime Minister also highlighted Swaminathan's contributions to the nation in agriculture, saying that he made outstanding efforts towards modernising Indian agriculture.
"It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernizing Indian agriculture. We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs," PM Modi said on X.