New Delhi, March 30: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, upon former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan, and two-time former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur posthumously. The ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The awards were received by the family members of the recipients. P V Prabhakar Rao, son of former Prime Minister Rao, accepted the honour on behalf of his father. Jayant Chaudhary, grandson of Chaudhary Charan Singh and president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), received the award from President Murmu. Swaminathan’s daughter Nitya Rao and Thakur’s son Ram Nath Thakur were also present to receive the award. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other dignitaries graced the ceremony with their presence. This year, the government announced five Bharat Ratna awards, including one for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani.