Which of the following leaders was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, posthumously rather than during his or her lifetime?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the Bharat Ratna, which is the highest civilian award in India. Specifically, it focuses on identifying the leader who received this award posthumously. Many national leaders and social reformers have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, some during their lifetime and some after their death. Distinguishing between these cases is a common examination theme in honours and awards questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award in question is the Bharat Ratna.
- The key condition is that the award was conferred posthumously.
- Four distinguished personalities are listed as options, each of whom is an important figure in Indian or world history.
- We assume that only one of these individuals is correctly recorded as having received the Bharat Ratna after death for the purpose of this specific exam question.

Concept / Approach:
The concept involves remembering which awardees were honoured after their death. Jayaprakash Narayan, a prominent freedom fighter and leader of the Total Revolution movement, was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. Dr S Radhakrishnan, Mother Teresa and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan were honoured when they were alive. By comparing each name against the timeline of the award, we can identify the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jayaprakash Narayan was a major figure in Indian politics and social reform, especially during the Emergency period. Step 2: Remember that he was awarded the Bharat Ratna after his death, which means the honour was posthumous. Step 3: Check the award timelines for the other options. Dr S Radhakrishnan, Mother Teresa and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan received the Bharat Ratna during their lifetime. Step 4: Since the question asks specifically for a posthumous award, only Jayaprakash Narayan matches this criterion among the options. Step 5: Select Jayaprakash Narayan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Lists of Bharat Ratna recipients in standard reference books and trusted online sources clearly mark Jayaprakash Narayan as a posthumous awardee. These lists also show the years in which Radhakrishnan, Mother Teresa and Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan were honoured, along with their living status at the time. Comparing these data points confirms that Jayaprakash Narayan is the only one from the given list to have received the award posthumously.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dr S Radhakrishnan was awarded the Bharat Ratna while he was alive, in recognition of his work as a philosopher and President of India.
Mother Teresa received the Bharat Ratna during her lifetime for her humanitarian service, not posthumously.
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Frontier Gandhi, was conferred the Bharat Ratna while he was alive, although he spent much of his life in regions outside modern India.

Common Pitfalls:
Many candidates assume that any older historical figure may have been honoured only after death, leading them to guess incorrectly. Another pitfall is not carefully distinguishing between the dates of award and the date of death of the recipients. To avoid confusion, learners should study the Bharat Ratna list with notes indicating which awards were posthumous and which were conferred during the person's lifetime.

Final Answer:
The Bharat Ratna was awarded posthumously to Jayaprakash Narayan.