India’s civilian awards are given to honor individuals for their exceptional service in various fields. The awards are:
Bharat Ratna– The highest civilian award, recognizing exceptional contributions in fields like arts, science, public service, and sports.Padma Vibhushan– For exceptional and distinguished service.Padma Bhushan– For distinguished service of a high order.Padma Shri– For distinguished service in any field.
The Bharat Ratna was first awarded in 1954 to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, C. Rajagopalachari, and C.V. Raman for their outstanding contributions in philosophy, public service, and science respectively.