UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 54
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
- Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India.
- Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
- The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Correct Option: D (1, 2 and 3)
Explanation: All three statements are incorrect: civilian honours are not Article 18 prohibited titles, Padma awards were suspended on more than one occasion, and Bharat Ratna’s normal annual maximum is three, not five.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Incorrect claim (included among NOT correct) - Incorrect claim: Bharat Ratna/Padma honours are not prohibited titles under Article 18 if not used as prefixes/suffixes.
2. Incorrect claim (included among NOT correct) - Incorrect claim: Padma Awards were suspended during 1977–80 and again during 1992–95.
3. Incorrect claim (included among NOT correct) - Incorrect claim: Bharat Ratna recommendations are ordinarily capped at three per year, not five.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-omits valid item 3 (Incorrect claim: Bharat Ratna recommendations are ordinarily capped at three per year, not five).
B. Incorrect-omits valid item 1 (Incorrect claim: Bharat Ratna/Padma honours are not prohibited titles under Article 18 if not used as prefixes/suffixes).
C. Incorrect-omits valid item 2 (Incorrect claim: Padma Awards were suspended during 1977–80 and again during 1992–95).
D. Correct-selects exactly the wrongly worded claims: 1, 2, 3.
Review note: The question asks which statements are NOT correct: each item labelled “Incorrect claim” is selected.