Context

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Bharat Ratna to five recipients -- socialist icon Chaudhary Charan Singh, former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch L.K. Advani.

Important contributions

• V. Narasimha Rao was commended for his leadership in economic reforms and his involvement in the freedom struggle against the Nizam rule in Hyderabad.
• Chaudhary Charan Singh’s contribution to the abolition of zamindari, his expertise in land reforms and his close ties with farmers were remembered.
• S. Swaminathan was praised as the “Father of India’s Green Revolution” for his role in making India self-reliant in food production.
• Karpoori Thakur’s commitment to helping marginalised communities was recognised, along with his role as a freedom fighter and an advocate for equality and inclusive development.