Tendulkar is not only the youngest Indian, but also the first to be chosen from the field of sports for the nation's highest civilian award, ahead of hockey maestro Dhyan Chand, whose name had been recommended by the Union sports ministry in July 2013.
The PMO sought information about Tendulkar from the sports ministry on November 14, the first day of his farewell Test in Mumbai.
The information reached the PMO in less than four hours. The following day, formalities involving the President and the Prime Minister were completed and the award was announced on November 16. The Prime Minister's letter informing Tendulkar, a Rajya Sabha member, of the honour was dated November 17.
Rao's name was recommended by Planning Commission member K Kasturirangan on September 28. The PMO sought Rao's bio-data from the department of science and technology. The information was sent in due course.
National honours for Tendulkar:
1994: Arjuna Award, in recognition of his outstanding achievement in sports.
1997-98: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest honour given for achievement in sports.
1999: Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.
2008: Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.
2014: Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
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