Former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, will be bestowed with India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the social media platform X to announce the prestigious accolades, commending the recipients for their significant contributions to the nation. In his announcement, PM Modi particularly highlighted Narasimha Rao's pivotal role in India's economic advancement.

"Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honored with the Bharat Ratna. As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country's prosperity and growth," wrote PM Narendra Modi on X.

"Narasimha Rao Garu’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India's foreign policy, language, and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage," he added.

PV Narasimha Rao, a Congress stalwart, is widely credited with spearheading economic reforms in India in 1991, which paved the way for the country's economic revival. Born on June 28, 1921, Rao served as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996.

During his tenure, amidst a foreign reserves crisis in 1991, Narasimha Rao's government implemented significant economic reforms including globalization, liberalization, and privatization, which reshaped India's economic landscape. Congratulatory messages are pouring in from all quarters and many feel that PV.Narasimha Rao deserves Bharat Ratna for the yeoman service he rendered to the nation along with the other distinguished celebrities.

Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.

As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as… pic.twitter.com/lihdk2BzDU

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024