Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika and Pranab Mukherjee conferred with Bharat Ratna

In an official statement, the government said Deshmukh and Hazarika were conferred the award posthumously.

Mukherjee was president between 2012 and 2017

The Bharat Ratna was conferred, last, in 2015 when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and eminent educationist and founder of Banaras Hindu University Madan Mohan Malviya (posthumously) were honoured with the award. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in separate tweets expressed his happiness over conferring of Bharat Ratna on the occasion of this year's Republic Day celebrations. 

He wrote, "Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times.He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna."

"The songs and music of Shri Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of justice, harmony and brotherhood.He popularised India's musical traditions globally. Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da," the Prime Minister said.

Nanaji Deshmukh's stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages. He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense!", he said in another tweet soon after the official announcement.