Which is the second highest civilian award given in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question again tests knowledge of the hierarchy of Indian civilian awards, a core part of general awareness. Candidates are often asked to arrange Bharat Ratna and the three Padma awards in order of precedence, or to identify which is highest and which is second highest. Being clear about this order helps with many related questions and also with understanding news reports on Republic Day when these honours are announced.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The query is about the second highest civilian award in India.
- Options are Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and Ashok Chakra.
- We must identify which one is second only to Bharat Ratna in civilian precedence.
- We assume official precedence rules of Indian honours.

Concept / Approach:
India civilian honours are arranged in a tiered order. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award. Immediately below it comes the Padma Vibhushan, followed by Padma Bhushan and then Padma Shri. Ashok Chakra, although a very high decoration, is a peacetime gallantry award and belongs to a different class of honours. Because the question specifically asks for the second highest civilian award, we must select the award that stands just below Bharat Ratna in the civilian category, which is Padma Vibhushan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the order of Indian civilian awards: Bharat Ratna at the top, then Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Step 2: Identify that the second highest civilian award is therefore Padma Vibhushan. Step 3: Check that Bharat Ratna is the highest, not the second highest, so option A is not correct. Step 4: Recognise that Ashok Chakra is a gallantry award and not part of the Padma civilian series, so it cannot answer the question about civilian awards.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government sources and standard general knowledge books consistently state that Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India and that Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award. Padma Bhushan is the third highest and Padma Shri is fourth in this sequence. Ashok Chakra is described separately as the highest peacetime gallantry award. These descriptions confirm that Padma Vibhushan is the correct option when asked about the second highest civilian award.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award, so it cannot be described as the second highest.
Padma Bhushan is one level below Padma Vibhushan and is the third highest civilian award, not the second.
Padma Shri is the fourth in the order of civilian honours and is therefore lower than both Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.
Ashok Chakra is a gallantry award given for valour in peacetime situations and is not classified as a civilian service award in the same way as the Padma awards.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent confusion is between Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan because both names sound similar and both refer to distinguished service. Another error is to include Ashok Chakra in the civilian awards list without recognising it as a gallantry decoration. Some candidates also assume that because Bharat Ratna is so famous, the next most famous term they recall must be the second highest, leading to guesswork. Learning a simple ladder Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri helps fix the correct hierarchy in memory.

Final Answer:
The second highest civilian award given in India is the Padma Vibhushan.