Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Padma Vibhushan
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question asks about the highest civilian honour awarded by the Government of India to legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan. Knowing the sequence of awards a prominent personality has received helps connect static GK on awards with popular culture.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Amitabh Bachchan has been honoured with multiple civilian awards over the years. He first received the Padma Shri, later the Padma Bhushan, and then the Padma Vibhushan. Bharat Ratna is higher than Padma Vibhushan in the civilian awards hierarchy, but as of the context implied by this question, he has not been conferred Bharat Ratna. Therefore, the highest award that he has actually received is Padma Vibhushan.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Amitabh Bachchan was awarded the Padma Shri earlier in his career for his contribution to the arts.Step 2: Later, he received the Padma Bhushan, which is a higher civilian award than Padma Shri.Step 3: Subsequently, he was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, which recognises exceptional and distinguished service and ranks above Padma Bhushan.Step 4: There has been no official announcement of Bharat Ratna being awarded to Amitabh Bachchan within the context relevant to this exam question.Step 5: Therefore, among the awards actually received by him, Padma Vibhushan is the highest civilian honour.
Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical profiles of Amitabh Bachchan and official Padma award lists show the timeline of his honours. They confirm that he has received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. News reports and government citations explicitly state that Padma Vibhushan is his highest civilian award to date. There is no credible official record of a Bharat Ratna being conferred on him in the context assumed by this question, which confirms that Padma Vibhushan is the correct choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may assume that an iconic figure like Amitabh Bachchan must have received Bharat Ratna and choose that option without checking actual data. Others may forget that he was later elevated from Padma Bhushan to Padma Vibhushan. It is important to distinguish between what logically could happen and what has actually been awarded according to official records.
Final Answer:
Padma Vibhushan is the highest civilian honour that Amitabh Bachchan has received from the Government of India, so option C is correct.
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