Sachin Tendulkar is the first sportsman to be given the honour.
notched up another prestigious first when he joined the list of the nation's Bharat Ratnas today. The President awarded him and noted scientist
Professor CNR Rao with India's highest civilian honour at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Sachin is the first sportsman to be given the honour; he beat hockey legend Dhyan Chand to get the first Bharat Ratna. At 40, he is also the youngest. (
Watch)
Speaking after the ceremony, Sachin called the award his "greatest honour" and said he "will continue to bat for India and try my best to give the people of India a reason to smile." (
Your message for Sachin Tendulkar)
Sachin, also a Rajya Sabha member, is expected to attend Parliament when it convenes for a two-week session tomorrow.
"I would also like to congratulate Professor CNR Rao for his achievement," Sachin said.
Dr Rao, 79, is a former director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and currently works at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research in Bangalore.
One of the most prolific chemists in the country, he still spends several hours every day in his laboratory and has published over 1500 research papers on materials science. He has been in the running for the Nobel Prize for many years.
Mr Rao, an outspoken critic of the system, had recently said "I wish in 20 years India will be in the top three or four countries in the world in science. I really want to see India shine."
Mr Rao is the fourth recipient of the Bharat Ratna from the field of science.