Which of the following is the highest civilian award given by the Republic of India?

Introduction / Context:
India confers several civilian honours to recognise exceptional service and achievements in different fields. Among these, one award is considered the highest civilian decoration. Knowing this hierarchy is a basic requirement for many general knowledge and civil services examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question is about India's highest civilian award.
• The options include Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Khel Ratna and None of these.
• Only one of these is the top civilian honour.

Concept / Approach:
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India. It is given for exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. The Padma awards form a separate tier of honours, and the Khel Ratna is a top sports award but is not a general civilian award. Therefore, the task is to recall that Bharat Ratna sits at the top of the civilian awards hierarchy.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise the category of the question: awards and honours in India. Step 2: Recall that Bharat Ratna is often described in textbooks and news articles as the highest civilian award. Step 3: Compare it with Padma Bhushan, which is a high but lower ranking civilian award than Bharat Ratna. Step 4: Note that Khel Ratna is specific to sports and therefore cannot be the highest general civilian decoration. Select Bharat Ratna.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you remember that recipients of Bharat Ratna include some of India's most revered leaders, artists and scientists, such as eminent presidents, musicians and scholars, this reinforces its status as the top honour. Padma awards, though prestigious, are more numerous and form a graded series below Bharat Ratna.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Padma Bhushan: A distinguished civilian award, but lower in precedence than Bharat Ratna.
• Khel Ratna: India's top sports honour, meant specifically for sportspersons rather than general civilian excellence.
• None of these: Incorrect because Bharat Ratna, listed among the options, is the correct answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students confuse the separate ladders of awards, such as sports awards and civilian honours. Keep in mind that Bharat Ratna is at the summit of the civilian awards structure, while Khel Ratna is at the summit of sports awards only.

Final Answer:
The highest civilian award of India is the Bharat Ratna.