President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao with the country’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna.

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.

Master batsman Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket on November 16 last year, is the first sportsman to bestowed with the honour.