Who was the first person to be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously?

Introduction / Context:
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India, given for exceptional service in any field of human endeavour. Some recipients have been honoured after their death. Knowing who was the first posthumous awardee is a favourite question in many general knowledge exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award discussed is the Bharat Ratna.- The question specifies the first person to receive it posthumously.- Options include several major political leaders and social reformers.

Concept / Approach:
Lal Bahadur Shastri, the second Prime Minister of India, died in office in nineteen sixty six. In the same year, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously. This made him the first person to receive the honour after death. Later, other leaders such as K. Kamaraj, M. G. Ramachandran and B. R. Ambedkar were also honoured posthumously, which sometimes creates confusion about the first instance.

Step-by-Step Solution:
- Step 1: Recall that Lal Bahadur Shastri served as Prime Minister during the nineteen sixty five war and passed away in Tashkent in nineteen sixty six.- Step 2: The Government of India conferred the Bharat Ratna on him after his death in recognition of his leadership and integrity.- Step 3: This posthumous honour was the first such case in the history of the award.- Step 4: Compare the dates of Bharat Ratna awards for other names in the options.- Step 5: Conclude that Lal Bahadur Shastri was the earliest posthumous recipient, and therefore is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A verification method is to create a simple mental timeline of Bharat Ratna recipients. The award was first given in nineteen fifty four, and for many years recipients were alive at the time of conferment. In nineteen sixty six, soon after his death, Lal Bahadur Shastri name appears in the list with the note that the honour was posthumous. Other posthumous awards such as those to K. Kamaraj or B. R. Ambedkar took place in later decades, which confirms that Shastri was the first.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B. R. Ambedkar did receive the Bharat Ratna posthumously in the nineteen nineties, but this was not the first posthumous conferment.K. Kamaraj was honoured posthumously, yet his award came after Lal Bahadur Shastri and therefore cannot be the first case.M. G. Ramachandran was a popular leader and film actor who also received the Bharat Ratna after his death, but again not as the first such recipient.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was honoured much later and his case does not match the earliest posthumous instance of the award.

Common Pitfalls:
Many aspirants confuse first posthumous recipient with the most recent or with the most famous name associated with social justice, such as B. R. Ambedkar. Others memorise partial lists without noting years. A helpful strategy is to study Bharat Ratna recipients in chronological order and mark special milestones such as first posthumous award or first non Indian recipient.

Final Answer:
The first person to receive the Bharat Ratna posthumously was Lal Bahadur Shastri.