Bharat Ratna 2024 LIVE: President Murmu Presents the Prestigious Awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan

Bharat Ratna 2024: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Bharat Ratna Awards at the Rashtrapati Bhawan today to the four eminent personalities nominated last month for receiving the highest civilian honour.

Former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao, eminent agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur will receive Bharat Ratna posthumously.

The President will, however, visit the house of former Deputy Prime Minister and BJP Leader Lal Krishna Advani on March 31 to confer the Bharat Ratna upon him. 

The ceremony began at 11 am today at the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda. 

Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary commented on the conferment of Bharat Ratna upon socialist leader and former Bihar CM today, stating, “Karpoori Thakur will be felicitated with the Bharat Ratna tomorrow at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, as announced by PM Modi. I want to express my respect to the leader of the poor and the downtrodden. I thank PM Modi for it."

On the Bharat Ratna award to former CM Karpoori Thakur, Bihar Minister Maheshwar Hazari says, "I would like to thank PM Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar ji for this. The people of Samastipur have always believed that Karpoori Thakur should be conferred with such an honour."

Former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur's family is in Delhi to receive the Bharat Ratna award to be conferred upon him by president Murmu today.

Bihar minister Maheshwar Hazari is also present with Karpoori Thakur's family.

On conferring Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh (posthumously), a native from his village Vijender Singh said, "We are very happy... He worked for the farmers... Farmers have flourished because of his work... He abolished the 'Zamindari' system when he became the CM... He should have received the Bharat Ratna 20 years ago... He deserves the Bharat Ratna..."

Commenting on the award conferred, Jayant Singh, grandson of former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh said, "I have no words to express how happy I felt. Sitting there one slowly realises the importance of the moment. The message that the government of India has taken this decision (to confer Bharat Ratna on Chaudhary Charan Singh) in the interest of farmers has reached every farmer."

Congratulating PV Narasimha Rao for receiving the prestigious award posthumously, PM Modi posted on X, “Every Indian cherishes what PV Narasimha Rao Garu has done for our nation and feels proud that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna. He worked extensively to further our country's progress and modernization. He is also known as a respected scholar and thinker. His contributions will forever be cherished.”

The Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, symbolises the nation’s gratitude and admiration for individuals who have left an indelible mark on its history and development.