- Padma and Bharat Awards constituted in 1954.
- 41 Bharat Ratnas has been conferred so far. Eleven out of 41 were awarded posthumously.
- 3598 Padma Awards has been conferred till 2010.
- No Padma Awards in 1978, 1979,1993,1994,1995,1996 and 1997.
- Bharat Ratna witnessed gaps in a number of years with the maximum seven consecutive years being reported between 2001 and 2009.
- Posthumous awards of Bharat Ratna on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose declined by the family. Only case of Bharat Ratna being declined.
- Total no of Bharat Ratna to be given in a particular years -3.
- Total number of Padma Awards to be given in a year [ excluding posthumous awards and to foreigners] - 120 [ the numbers increased from 100 to 120 in the year 2006]
- Foreigners are also eligible for the Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards.