Sachin Tendulkar, Prof C N R Rao given Bharat Ratna

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were on Tuesday (February 4) conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The President presented the honours at a brief function at Rashtrapati Bhavan's Durbar Hall attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Union ministers, Sachin's wife Anjali, daughter Sara and a host of dignitaries. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket on November 16 last year, is the first sportsman to be bestowed with the honour. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Tendulkar (40) and Rao (79), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan -- the country's second highest civilian honour, will join a list of 41 eminent personalities who have been conferred with the award that is given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order since it was instituted in 1954. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

In a fitting finale to a record-breaking career spanning 24 years, Tendulkar, a former India Captain, was chosen for the prestigious award, after his farewell 200th Test against the West Indies in Mumbai on November 16, 2013. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

An official statement had said Tendulkar has been a true Ambassador of India in the world of sports and his achievements in cricket are unparallelled, the records set by him unmatched, and the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by him exemplary. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Prof Rao's contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards, the official announcement said. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Sachin Tendulkar's daughter Sara was also at Rashtrapati Bhavan for her father's felicitation ceremony. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Sachin with wife Anjali and daughter Sara. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Shashi Tharoor, Union Minister of State for HRD, made his first public appearance post the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar at the ceremony. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)

Sachin Tendulkar sang the entire national anthem during the ceremony. (IE Photo: Neeraj Priyadarshi)