Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards : 1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. 2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. 3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. Which of the above statements are not correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is D, 1, 2 and 3. All three statements are incorrect, so all three are 'not correct'. Statement 1 is wrong because in Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1995) the Supreme Court held that the Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are not titles within the meaning of Article 18(1), which abolishes titles; they are honours for merit and must not be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient's name. Statement 2 is wrong because the awards, instituted in 1954, were suspended twice: from 1977 to 1980 under the Janata government, and from 1992 to 1995, while their validity was being challenged in court. Statement 3 is wrong because the rules allow at most three Bharat Ratna awards in a year, not five. The Bharat Ratna was first given in 1954, to C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan and C. V. Raman. Options A, B and C are wrong because each leaves out one incorrect statement. Exam tip: Article 18(1) bars titles, but these awards are not titles (Balaji Raghavan 1995); suspended 1977–80 and 1992–95; rule cap of three Bharat Ratnas a year.
Practice Questions
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