ASKiIMAN™ REALM 101 / AWARDS & HONOURS
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The Laurels of the Republic

Bharat Ratna, Jnanpith, Swarna Kamal & The Pinnacle of Achievement

REALM 101 — CIVILIAN & CULTURAL AWARDS

MICRO-REALM 01

Bharat Ratna

  • The highest civilian award of the Republic of India, instituted in 1954.
  • Awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.
  • The medal is shaped like a Peepal leaf made of toned bronze with a sunburst in the center, worn around the neck on a white ribbon.
MICRO-REALM 02

Padma Vibhushan

  • The second-highest civilian award, given for "exceptional and distinguished service."
  • Announced annually on Republic Day.
  • The badge features a circular bronze medallion with a geometrically embossed lotus flower in the center.
MICRO-REALM 03

Padma Bhushan & Shri

  • Padma Bhushan: Third-highest, awarded for "distinguished service of a high order."
  • Padma Shri: Fourth-highest, awarded for "distinguished service" in various arts, education, industry, literature, science, and social service.
MICRO-REALM 04

Jnanpith Award

  • The oldest and highest Indian literary award, presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith.
  • Awarded only to Indian citizens writing in languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution (and English).
  • Winners receive a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati). First winner: G. Sankara Kurup (Malayalam).
MICRO-REALM 05

Sahitya Akademi Award

  • Conferred annually on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit.
  • Recognizes works in 24 major Indian languages .
  • The physical award is a copper plaque designed by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray .
MICRO-REALM 06

Saraswati Samman

  • Instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation.
  • Recognizes outstanding prose or poetry literary works in any of the 22 languages of India published in the last 10 years.
  • Harivansh Rai Bachchan was the first recipient for his four-volume autobiography.
MICRO-REALM 07

Dadasaheb Phalke

  • India's highest award in the field of cinema.
  • Presented at the National Film Awards ceremony for "outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema."
  • Named after the director of India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913).
MICRO-REALM 08

National Film Awards

  • Established in 1954 to encourage films of aesthetic, technical, and social relevance.
  • Awards are divided into Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema.
  • Top awards are the Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) and Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).
MICRO-REALM 09

SNA Puraskar

  • The highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists in the categories of music, dance, and theatre.
  • The Akademi Ratna (Fellowship) is the most prestigious honor, strictly restricted to a maximum of 40 living fellows at any given time.
MICRO-REALM 10

Param Vir Chakra

  • India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valor during wartime.
  • Designed by Savitri Khanolkar.
  • The bronze medal features four replicas of Indra's Vajra (thunderbolt), symbolizing the supreme sacrifice of Sage Dadhichi.
MICRO-REALM 11

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna

  • The highest sporting honour of India (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna).
  • Awarded for the most outstanding performance in sports over a period of four years.
  • Complementary to the Arjuna Award (consistent performance) and Dronacharya Award (for outstanding coaches).
MICRO-REALM 12

SSB Prize for Science

  • The premier multidisciplinary science award in India, presented by the CSIR.
  • Given annually for outstanding research in Biology, Chemistry, Environment, Engineering, Math, Medicine, and Physics.
  • Named after the founder-director of CSIR, Sir Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.