Friends Society Ratna

Friends Society Ratna
Medal of the Friends Society Ratna
Awarded by President of Friends Society
Type	National civilian
Established	2015
Eligibility	Civilians
Awarded for	exceptional and extraordinary services to the State and the people
Status	No longer conferred
Statistics
First induction	2015 Varuna Sriraya
Last induction	2019 Arnab Sil Asmi Patranabis
Total inductees	6
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Next (lower)	Padma Ratna
Ribbon bar of the Friends Society Ratna

The Friends Society Ratna (Jewel of Friends Society) was the highest civilian award of Friends Society. Instituted on 15 April 2015, the award was conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The award was originally named as the Bharat Ratna, however it was renamed as the Children's Group Ratna in January 2016 and as Friends Society Ratna in 2017. The recommendations for the Friends Society Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion. There is no monetary grant associated with the award.

History

The Friends Society Ratna was constituted on 15 April 2015 by then President Sarala Baishya on the advice of Varuna Sriraya. It was named as the Bharat Ratna at time of its constitution, based on the highest civilian award of India, the Bharat Ratna. The first two awards were presented as the Bharat Ratna, when it was renamed as the Children's Group Ratna. Following the change in the name of the nation, it was named as the Friends Society Ratna.

It has been conferred only five times, upon six individuals for their highest level of contributions and services to the nation. The first recipient was Varuna Sriraya who was conferred the award in 2015. The award was conferred for the last time in 2019 upon Arnab Sil and Asmi Patranabis. It was declared to be a dormant award following the creation of the Order of the Commonwealth as no other inductions were made after its creation. It was dissolved on the eve of the transition to a monarchy on 8 June 2020.

Recipients

List of laureates awarded the Friends Society Ratna

Year	Image	Laureates	Conferred by	Notes
2015	File:Birthday Portrait of Rashtradhyaksh Varuna Sriraya (cropped).jpg	Varuna Sriraya	Sarala Baishya President	One of the founders of the nation, served as the first President of the nation between 2007 and 2009. He became the Prime Minister and leader of the nation on 12 January 2010 following the resignation of Arnisha Phatowali. Conferred with the award, in recognition to his services for the welfare of the people and development of the nation.
2016	File:Official Portrait of Tanishkaa Patranabish (October 2018).jpg	Tanishkaa Patranabish	Varuna Sriraya President	One of the founders of the nation, served as the first Vice President of the nation. She had served as a Minister under various capacities and under various Prime Ministers, before becoming the Prime Minister herself in 2015. She also served as the President of the nation between 2010 and 2012, and again in 2016. She became Prime Minister for the second time in 2017, and then in 2018. Her final tenure as Prime Minister lasted between 2019 and 2020. Conferred for her extraordinary services towards the nation.
2017		Sarala Baishya	Varuna Sriraya President	A senior and active politician of the nation, she rose through ranks in the nation, becoming the Prime Minister of the nation for the first time in 2014, and eventually as the President in the same year. However, her first premiership lasted for a few months until her resignation in November 2014, but was able to become Prime Minister for the second time in December 2015 and remained in position until 2016. In late 2016, she became Acting President and was elected for a full tenure in January 2017 but decided to quit to become the Prime Minister in April 2017 and remained in office until July the same year. Conferred for her extraordinary services to the nation.
2018	File:Portrait of Anoushkaa Patranabish in 2018.jpg	Anoushkaa Patranabish	Varuna Sriraya Caretaker President
2019	File:Portrait of Arnab Sil.png	Arnab Sil	Varuna Sriraya President
		Asmi Patranabis