Who were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna in 1954?

The correct answer is B, C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and C. V. Raman. All three were honoured in 1954, the first year of the award. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India, Radhakrishnan was a philosopher who later became President, and Raman was the physicist who discovered the effect that carries his name.

Option A groups three of the best known leaders of the period, which makes it attractive, but they were not the first set. Option C names people who were honoured in later years and is built to look plausible. Option D mixes Rajagopalachari, who was correct, with Shastri and Indira Gandhi, who belong to 1966 and 1971 respectively, the first posthumous award and the first woman recipient. A three-name question of this kind is safest answered by checking that all three names fit, not just the one you recognise.