Lal Krishna Advani, the BJP stalwart who propelled the party to national prominence on Saturday was announced to be conferred with Bharat Ratna.
The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour, bestowed for exceptional service or performance in any field of human endeavour.
Bharat Ratna is a bronze medallion shaped like a peepal leaf, with an image of the Sun and the words "Bharat Ratna" inscribed in Devanagari script.
The award was designed by Nandalal Bose, a well-known artist and Padma Vibhushan recipient.
Bharat Ratna awardee gets a lifetime pension similar to the salary of the Chief Justice of India.
Discounted travel on Air India domestic flights.
Priority boarding at airports and train stations.
The Central Reserve Police Force provides Z+ category security cover.
If the recipient dies within the country, he or she will receive a state funeral with full military honours.