So far, there have been four dozen recipients of the Bharat Ratna, independent India’s highest civilian honour. They come from diverse fields—from politics, social service, science & technology, performing arts, industry, even sports.
Politicians and people in public life dominate the list, accounting for over half (25) of the awardees. Performing artistes come in second with seven recipients and social workers third with five. The rest is accounted by people from science & technology (four), academics (three) and one each from industry and sports. So far, only two non-Indian citizens have won the Bharat Ratna, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan in 1987
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