What is Eligibility to get Bharat Ratna?

In recent times, the eligibility for Bharat Ratna was changed. The government has changed the eligibility criteria for the Bharat Ratna and decided to include sports for the country’s highest civilian award. The prospects of sports icons like legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar and Hockey great Dhyan Chand receiving the honour have become bright after the Bharat Ratna category has been broadened with excellence in any field of human endeavor as the new eligibility norm. Please note that the nation’s highest civilian award will now be awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order “in any field of human endeavour” — covering almost all the fields that had earlier remained out of the purview of the award. Earlier, it was restricted to areas like “art, literature, science and public service”.