Which of the following correctly describes the Bharat Ratna's relationship to Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution?
- The Bharat Ratna is a title under Article 18(1) and was therefore declared unconstitutional in 1996
- The Bharat Ratna is NOT a title under Article 18(1) — confirmed constitutional by the Supreme Court in 1996
- Article 18(1) specifically exempts the Bharat Ratna from its prohibition on titles
- The Bharat Ratna is governed by Article 51A (Fundamental Duties) rather than Article 18
Answer: The Bharat Ratna is NOT a title under Article 18(1) — the Supreme Court confirmed this in 1996
Article 18(1) prohibits the State from conferring any title except military or academic distinctions. A common misconception is that the Bharat Ratna therefore violates the Constitution. The Supreme Court, in the Balaji Raghavan case (1996), held that Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are not titles within the meaning of Article 18(1) and do not violate the Constitution.