The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the Bharat Ratna on Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening (March 27, 2015) in New Delhi. In a special gesture, the President conferred the Award in a simple ceremony held at the residence of Shri Vajpayee.

Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India; Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi; former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam; former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh; Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh; senior members of the Cabinet; several Chief Ministers; leaders of political parties; members of Shri Vajpayee’s family and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

This release issued at 1750 hrs.