2024 Bharat Ratna: President Draupadi Murmu today conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously to two former Prime Ministers and a scientist, MS Swaminathan, and a former Chief Minister.

30 March 2024 ,New Delhi

President Draupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously to two former Prime Ministers (Lal Krishna Advani) and prominent figures including Lal Krishna Advani, an experienced BJP leader, on Saturday. Following this, the other recipients of the Bharat Ratna, excluding former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, were former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and P.V. Narasimha Rao, distinguished agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, and former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had posted on social media, “It is a shared joy that our former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao Garu will be honored with the Bharat Ratna. As a distinguished scholar and politician, Narasimha Rao Garu is equally remembered for his significant contributions in various capacities in serving India. He is equally remembered for his visionary leadership that aided in laying a solid foundation for India’s economic advancement and prosperity.”

The Prime Minister announced the honor for Chaudhary Charan Singh, stating, “It is our government’s privilege that former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honored with the Bharat Ratna. This honor is dedicated to his unparalleled contribution to the nation. He devoted his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers.” Chaudhary Charan’s grandson Jayant Chaudhary received this honor.

The PM also announced conferring the Bharat Ratna to agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan. He wrote, “It is a matter of great joy that the Government of India is honoring M.S. Swaminathan Ji with the Bharat Ratna for his remarkable contributions to agriculture and the welfare of farmers in our country. He played a crucial role in helping India achieve self-sufficiency and modernizing Indian agriculture during challenging times.”