Govt gets requests to give Bharat Ratna for Sachin

The government on Wednesday said it has received requests from various quarters to confer the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar, adding that a proposal to confer the country's highest civilian award to sportspersons was under consideration.

Minister of State for Home, Mullappally Ramachandran said according to the President's Secretariat's notification (No.1 -Pers./55 dated 8-1-1955), the Bharat Ratna is awarded for exceptional services in arts, literature and science and in recognition of public services of the highest order.

"A suggestion regarding modification in the existing eligibility norms has been received and is under consideration of the government," he said in Rajya Sabha when asked whether the government proposes to amend the rules for conferring the award to the cricketer.