Static GK
Awards — Bharat Ratna, Padma & Nobel
Awards & Honours are a recurring theme in GA sections. Understand the order of precedence of civilian awards and the categories of the Nobel Prize, then layer the latest awardees from the Current Affairs hub on top.
Why this matters: Expect 1 question on civilian awards order, 1 on a recent Bharat Ratna/Nobel and occasional questions on category founders.
Civilian awards — order of precedence
- Bharat Ratna — highest civilian award (instituted 1954)
- Padma Vibhushan — exceptional and distinguished service
- Padma Bhushan — distinguished service of high order
- Padma Shri — distinguished service
Padma awards are conferred by the President on Republic Day each year.
Gallantry awards (peacetime)
- Ashoka Chakra — highest peacetime gallantry award
- Kirti Chakra
- Shaurya Chakra
Gallantry awards (wartime)
- Param Vir Chakra — highest wartime gallantry award
- Maha Vir Chakra
- Vir Chakra
Nobel Prize categories
| Category | First Awarded | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 1901 | Founded by Alfred Nobel's will |
| Chemistry | 1901 | |
| Physiology or Medicine | 1901 | |
| Literature | 1901 | |
| Peace | 1901 | Awarded in Oslo, Norway |
| Economic Sciences | 1969 | Instituted by Sweden's Riksbank in memory of Nobel |
Notable Indian Nobel laureates
| Year | Laureate | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Rabindranath Tagore | Literature |
| 1930 | Sir C.V. Raman | Physics |
| 1968 | Hargobind Khorana (US-Indian origin) | Medicine |
| 1979 | Mother Teresa | Peace |
| 1983 | Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (US-Indian origin) | Physics |
| 1998 | Amartya Sen | Economics |
| 2009 | Venkatraman Ramakrishnan (UK-Indian origin) | Chemistry |
| 2014 | Kailash Satyarthi | Peace |
| 2019 | Abhijit Banerjee (US-Indian origin) | Economics |
Major Indian arts & sports awards
- Jnanpith Award — highest literary award (since 1965)
- Sahitya Akademi Award — literature in 24 languages
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award — highest in Indian cinema
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna — highest sporting honour (renamed 2021)
- Arjuna Award — outstanding sportspersons
- Dronacharya Award — coaches
Quick Revision Facts
- Bharat Ratna was instituted in 1954; the first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and C.V. Raman.
- There is no monetary component with the Bharat Ratna; recipients receive a peepal-leaf-shaped medallion.
- Param Vir Chakra is the highest wartime gallantry award (instituted 1950).
- Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award.
- The Nobel Peace Prize is the only Nobel awarded in Oslo; the rest are awarded in Stockholm.
- Rabindranath Tagore was the first Indian and first Asian Nobel laureate (Literature, 1913).
- Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
- Khel Ratna was renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2021.
Quick Quiz — Awards & Honours
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the highest civilian award of India?
Bharat Ratna.
Which is India's highest sporting honour?
The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna).
Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize?
Rabindranath Tagore — Nobel Prize in Literature, 1913.
Where is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded?
In Oslo, Norway. All other categories are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.
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