NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya would be conferred with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government made this announcement a day before the birth anniversaries of both the leaders - Vajpayee was born in 1924 and Malaviya in 1861.
The government had earlier declared December 25 as "Good Governance Day."
President Pranab Mukherjee has given approval to the government's request.
"President Mukherjee has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously) and to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Rashtrapati Bhawan tweeted.