Which Indian Prime Minister received Nishan-e-Pakistan, the highest civilian award of Pakistan?

Introduction / Context:
Nishan-e-Pakistan is the highest civilian decoration awarded by the state of Pakistan. Very few foreign leaders receive this honour, and among Indian Prime Ministers only one has been conferred this decoration. This question tests knowledge of India Pakistan relations and important awards given in the field of diplomacy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Nishan-e-Pakistan is the top civilian award of Pakistan.
• Only one Indian Prime Minister has been given this decoration.
• The options list four well known Indian Prime Ministers from the post independence period.

Concept / Approach:
The correct method is to connect foreign honours with the leaders known for improving bilateral relations. Morarji Desai, who served as Prime Minister from 1977 to 1979, was recognised by Pakistan for his efforts to normalise ties and for his stance on regional peace. Therefore we identify which leader had this specific honour and select that option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the list of major international honours received by Indian Prime Ministers.Step 2: Note that Morarji Desai was awarded Nishan-e-Pakistan in recognition of his role in improving India Pakistan relations.Step 3: Check the other options and confirm that they are not associated with this particular Pakistani award.Step 4: Select Morarji Desai as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A learner can cross check by remembering that Rajiv Gandhi is more commonly linked with the Indo Sri Lanka accord and technology initiatives, Atal Bihari Vajpayee with nuclear tests and Lahore bus diplomacy, and Indira Gandhi with the Bangladesh liberation war. The unique link between Nishan-e-Pakistan and Morarji Desai stands out, which confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rajiv Gandhi did not receive Nishan-e-Pakistan, so choosing him confuses his domestic and foreign policies with this specific Pakistani honour. Atal Bihari Vajpayee engaged in peace efforts with Pakistan but was not given this award. Indira Gandhi also never received it and is remembered more for decisive military and political actions in South Asia. The option "None of the above" is wrong because the decoration was in fact conferred on Morarji Desai.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often guess based on which name feels most recent or most famous rather than on specific factual memory. Some may assume that leaders associated with peace efforts, like Vajpayee, automatically received such awards. Others may not distinguish between Pakistani honours and awards from other countries. Building a short list of key international awards connected with each Prime Minister is a useful way to avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Morarji Desai.