UPSC Prelims 2021 Q96: Indian Polity – Constitutional Framework & Development
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1,2 and3
Answer: (d) 1,2 and3
Explanation
Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards - Which Statements are NOT correct?
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under Article 18(1) | FALSE (NOT CORRECT) | Article 18(1) PROHIBITS the State from conferring titles (except military and academic distinctions). Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are NOT titles - Supreme Court in Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996) held they are civilian honours/decorations, not titles. Awardees cannot use them as prefix/suffix to their names. |
| 2 | Padma Awards instituted 1954, suspended only once | FALSE (NOT CORRECT) | Padma Awards were suspended TWICE: (i) 1977-1980 (Janata Government under Morarji Desai), (ii) 1992-1997 (following Balaji Raghavan case pending). So 'only once' is WRONG. |
| 3 | Bharat Ratna restricted to max 5 per year | FALSE (NOT CORRECT) | Bharat Ratna is restricted to a maximum of THREE (3) persons per year, NOT five. This has been the limit since inception. |
All three statements are NOT correct. Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Answer: (d) 1,2 and3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 3 is also NOT correct (Bharat Ratna max is 3 per year, not 5).
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 1 is also NOT correct (Bharat Ratna is not a title under Article 18(1)).
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is also NOT correct (Padma awards suspended twice, not once).
- (d) CORRECT. All three statements are NOT correct: (1) Bharat Ratna/Padma are NOT titles under Article 18(1); (2) Padma Awards were suspended TWICE (1977-80 and 1992-97), not once; (3) Bharat Ratna is max THREE per year, not five.
Key point
All three statements WRONG: (1) Bharat Ratna/Padma are NOT titles (Balaji Raghavan 1996); (2) Padma Awards suspended TWICE (1977-80 + 1992-97), not once; (3) Bharat Ratna max = THREE per year (not five). All three NOT correct = answer (d).
Remember
All three statements are NOT correct: (1) Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are NOT titles under Article 18(1) - they are civilian honours per Balaji Raghavan v. UoI (1996); (2) Padma Awards were suspended TWICE (1977-80 and 1992-97), not once; (3) Bharat Ratna is restricted to a maximum of THREE persons per year, not five. Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Common mistakes
- Assuming Bharat Ratna is a title. It is a civilian award - awardees cannot prefix/suffix it to their name.
- Not knowing Padma Awards were suspended TWICE - 1977-80 and 1992-97.
- Confusing Bharat Ratna max (3 per year) with Padma awards max (which has different caps for Padma Vibhushan, Bhushan, Shri).
Exam tip
Bharat Ratna: max 3 per year; instituted 1954; Balaji Raghavan (1996) upheld as civilian honour, not title (Article 18 not violated). Padma Awards (Vibhushan, Bhushan, Shri): instituted 1954, suspended 1977-80 (Janata Govt) and 1992-97 (Balaji Raghavan case pending). Highest honour = Bharat Ratna.
Sources
- Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996) 1 SCC 361
- Ministry of Home Affairs - Padma Awards and Bharat Ratna Regulations