BHARAT RATNA 2019 The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The Bharat Ratna Awardees in 2019 are: 1. Pranab Mukherjee 2. Bhupen Hazarika (Posthumously) 3. Nanaji Deshmukh (Posthumously) 1. Pranab Mukherjee, who was the 13th President of India and served from 2012 until 2017, had served under Indira Gandhi. He was also the Finance Minister under the premiership of Manmohan Singh. 2. Nanaji Deshmukh , who passed away in 2012 at the age of 94, was a member of the Lok Sabha from 1977 to 1979 representing the Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. He also served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005. His contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in villages. 3. Bhupen Hazarika