The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the government expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in December 2011. The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion. There is no monetary grant associated with the award. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one of the characters of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata of ancient India. In Hinduism, he has been seen as a symbol of hard work, dedication and concentration. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Before the introduction of the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 1991–1992, the Arjuna award was the highest sporting honour of India. The nominations for the award are received from all government recognised National Sports Federations, the Indian Olympic Association, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Sports Promotion and Control Boards, the state and the union territory governments and the Major Dhyan Chandra Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dhyan Chand and Dronacharya awardees of the previous years. The recipients are selected by a committee constituted by the Ministry and are honoured for their "good performance in the field of sports over a period of four years" at the international level and for having shown "qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline." As of 2020, the award comprises "a bronze statuette of Arjuna, certificate, ceremonial dress, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$19,000)."
The Chief of the Air Staff (India), known also as the Air Force Chief, has been the title of the professional head of the Indian Air Force since 1950. The CAS is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces held by the most senior officer of the Air Force, and is usually the highest ranking air officer of the Indian Armed Forces unless the Chief of Defence Staff is an officer of the aerial branch.
The Chief of the Naval Staff, (CNS) has been the title of the professional head of the Indian Navy since 1955 and is a statutory position in the Indian Armed Forces held by a four star admiral. As the highest-ranking officer assigned to serve in the Indian Navy, the chief is the principal military advisor on naval affairs and a deputy to the Union Minister of Defence. In a separate capacity, the CNS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and, thereby, a military advisor to the National Security Council (India), the prime minister and the president. The CSA is typically the highest-ranking officer on active duty of the Indian Navy unless the chairman is a naval officer.
Admiral Bhaskar Sadashiv Soman was an Indian Navy Admiral. He was in command of the Indian Navy from 1962 to 1966 as the 5th Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
The Western Naval Command is one of the three command–level formations of the Indian Navy. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. As the senior–most of the three formations, the command is responsible for the all naval forces in the Arabian Sea and western parts of the Indian Ocean and the naval establishments on the west coast of India.
The Southern Naval Command is one of the three command-level formations of the Indian Navy. It has its headquarters in Kochi, Kerala at INS Venduruthy. It is the Training Command of the Indian Navy.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on 9 June 1964. In his ministry, the ministers were as follows.
The First Indira Gandhi ministry was formed on 24 January 1966 under the premiership of Indira Gandhi who was elected as the Prime Minister of India by the Congress Parliamentary Party to succeed Gulzarilal Nanda who was serving as the acting prime minister since 11 January 1966 following the untimely demise of Lal Bahadur Shastri. The cabinet remained in office until the 1967 general election in which Indira Gandhi was re-elected to office.
Jawaharlal Nehru was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on 15 August 1947. After first Indian general election, Nehru became the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the country and his second term started on 15 April 1952. In his ministry upon reelection, the ministers were as follows.
The Third Nehru ministry was formed on 17 April 1957 after the Indian National Congress won the 1957 general election with a vast majority.
The Fourth Nehru ministry was formed on 2 April 1962 after the Indian National Congress won the 1962 general election.
Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet (FOCWF) is the title of the Indian Navy Officer who commands the Western Fleet, headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The FOCWF is a two star admiral holding the rank of Rear Admiral. The appointment is considered to be an important and a coveted one. The Current FOCWF is Rear Admiral C. R. Praveen Nair, who assumed office on 10 November 2023.
The first Nanda ministry was formed as an interim cabinet upon the death in office of Jawaharlal Nehru on 27 May 1964.
Supreme Commander's Headquarters (India and Pakistan) was a short-lived British military command, the successor to the India Command. It was established by the Joint Defence Council of India and Pakistan prior to Independence in 1947 and was intended to oversee the withdrawal of the majority of the British Armed Forces in India, along with assisting with the organisation and nationalisation of the newly created armed forces of India and Pakistan.
The Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award, formerly known as the National Adventure Awards is the highest adventure sports honour of the Republic of India. The award is named after Tenzing Norgay, one of the first two individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest along with Edmund Hillary in 1953. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The recipients are honoured for their "outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air" over the last three years. The lifetime achievement is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated excellence and have devoted themselves in the promotion of adventure sports. As of 2020, the award comprises "a bronze statuette of Tenzing Norgay along with a cash prize of ₹15 lakh (US$19,000)."
The National Sports Awards is the collective name given to the six sports awards of the Republic of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. They are presented by the President of India in the same ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually on 29 August. Since 2004, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award is also given alongside the other sports awards. As of 2020, a total of 1,259 individuals and organizations have been awarded the various National Sports Awards.
The Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) is the head of the Armed Forces Medical Services of the Indian Armed Forces. A three-star rank medical flag officer, the DGAFMS is equivalent to Army Commanders and the Defence Secretary. The DGAFMS is the advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Minister of Defence on the medical requirements of the Armed Forces.
