Bharat Ratna — Set 5
Awards & Honors · भारत रत्न · Questions 41–50 of 60
Who were the first three recipients of the Bharat Ratna award in 1954?
Correct Answer: B. Radhakrishnan, Rajagopalachari, Raman
• **S. Radhakrishnan, C. Rajagopalachari, C.V. Raman** = These three individuals were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna award. • **1954** — The Bharat Ratna award was first instituted and given to these three in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nehru, Azad, Patel: These were influential leaders but not the first three recipients; Prasad, Radhakrishnan, Nehru: While Radhakrishnan and Nehru received it, Prasad was not among the initial three; Raman, Bose, Bhabha: C.V. Raman was an initial recipient, but Bose and Bhabha were not among the first three.
The design of the Bharat Ratna award consists of an image of the sun and which words in Devanagari script?
Correct Answer: B. Bharat Ratna
• **Bharat Ratna** = These words are embossed in Devanagari script on the front side of the award, along with an image of the sun. • **Peepal leaf** — The medal is designed to resemble this, symbolizing wisdom and longevity. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Satyameva Jayate: This is the national motto and appears on the reverse side, not the front with the sun; Vande Mataram: This is a patriotic song, not part of the award's front design; Jai Hind: This is a patriotic slogan, not part of the award's front design.
Who was the first Prime Minister to receive the Bharat Ratna award during his lifetime?
Correct Answer: A. Jawaharlal Nehru
• **Jawaharlal Nehru** = He was the first Prime Minister to be awarded the Bharat Ratna while still in office. • **1955** — He received the Bharat Ratna in this year, serving as Prime Minister at the time. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Lal Bahadur Shastri: He received the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1966; Indira Gandhi: She received the Bharat Ratna in 1971 while serving as PM, but after Nehru; Morarji Desai: He received the Bharat Ratna in 1991, long after his tenure as PM.
Which Bharat Ratna recipient was known as 'Frontier Gandhi'?
Correct Answer: B. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
• **Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan** = He was affectionately known as 'Frontier Gandhi' due to his non-violent resistance. • **1987** — He was the first non-citizen to receive the Bharat Ratna in this year. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Nelson Mandela: He was known as 'Madiba' and was the second non-citizen Bharat Ratna recipient; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: He is known as the 'Father of the Nation' of Bangladesh, not 'Frontier Gandhi'; Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: He was a prominent Indian independence activist, but not known by this epithet.
In which year did the government first start awarding the Bharat Ratna posthumously?
Correct Answer: C. 1966
• **1966** = The government first started awarding the Bharat Ratna posthumously in this year. • **Lal Bahadur Shastri** — He was the first recipient of the Bharat Ratna posthumously in **1966**. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1954: This was the year the award was instituted, but not given posthumously; 1955: The law was amended to allow posthumous awards, but the first actual award was later; 1971: While posthumous awards continued, this was not the first year it happened.
Who among the following is the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna?
Correct Answer: C. Sachin Tendulkar
• **Sachin Tendulkar** = is the youngest recipient of the Bharat Ratna. • **40** — he received the award at this age in 2014, becoming the first sportsperson to be honored. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Indira Gandhi: received the award in 1971; Rajiv Gandhi: received the award in 1991; Amartya Sen: received the award in 1999.
Who was the first woman to be honored with the Bharat Ratna?
Correct Answer: B. Indira Gandhi
• **Indira Gandhi** = was the first woman to be honored with the Bharat Ratna. • **1971** — she received the award for her decisive role as Prime Minister, including the liberation of Bangladesh. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Mother Teresa: received the award in 1980; Sarojini Naidu: was never awarded the Bharat Ratna; Aruna Asaf Ali: received the award posthumously in 1997.
Which non-Indian citizen and Nobel Peace Prize winner was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990?
Correct Answer: B. Nelson Mandela
• **Nelson Mandela** = was the second non-citizen and a Nobel Peace Prize winner to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. • **1990** — he received the award, sharing the year with B.R. Ambedkar, for his fight against apartheid in South Africa. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Mother Teresa: was also a non-citizen but received the award in 1980; Martin Luther King Jr.: was never awarded the Bharat Ratna; Barack Obama: was never awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Who was the first President of India to receive the Bharat Ratna?
Correct Answer: B. S. Radhakrishnan
• **S. Radhakrishnan** = was the first President of India to receive the Bharat Ratna, awarded before his presidency. • **1954** — he received the award as one of the inaugural recipients, recognizing his contributions as a philosopher and Vice President. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Rajendra Prasad: received the award in 1962; Zakir Hussain: received the award in 1963; V.V. Giri: received the award in 1975.
Which shehnai maestro was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001?
Correct Answer: A. Ustad Bismillah Khan
• **Ustad Bismillah Khan** = was the shehnai maestro awarded the Bharat Ratna. • **2001** — he was honored for his profound contribution to Indian classical music, elevating the shehnai to global recognition. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ustad Zakir Hussain: is a tabla maestro, received Padma Vibhushan but not Bharat Ratna; Pt. Ravi Shankar: was a sitar maestro, received Bharat Ratna in 1999; Pt. Bhimsen Joshi: was a classical vocalist, received Bharat Ratna in 2008.