What is Bharat Ratna?
[[File:Bharat Ratna.jpg|thumb|right|alt=]] '''Bharat Ratna''' ({{lang-hi|भारत रत्न}}, meaning ''Jewel of India'',<ref>{{cite book |last= Mahajan|first=Vidya Dhar |title= The Constitution of India|year= 1971 |publisher= [[Eastern Book Company]]|location=[[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]| page=169}}</ref> or ''Gem of India'')<ref>{{cite book |last= Hoiberg |first=Dale |author2=Indu Ramchandani |title= Students' Britannica India|url= https://archive.org/details/studentsbritanni03hoib |year= 2000 |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica (India) |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-0-85229-760-5 |pages=Vol. 3, p.198 |no-pp= true}}</ref> is the highest civilian award in [[India]]. They are given to people who have given the highest level of service in artistic, literary or scientific achievements.<ref>{{cite book |last= Pylee |first= Moolamattom Varkey |title= The Constitution of India |year= 1971 |publisher= S. Chand & Company Ltd. |location= New Delhi |isbn=978-81-219-2203-6 |page=114}}</ref> As of 2011, it can also be given to sportspeople.<ref>{{cite news |title=Govt changes criteria for Bharat Ratna; now open for all |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=16 December 2011 |url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2720348.ece |access-date= 16 December 2011}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{Asia-stub}} [[Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of India]]