Addressing the Lok Sabha Union Minister of State (MoS) Nityanand Rai said that the decisions regarding the award of Bharat Ratna are taken from time to time. On Tuesday Rai said no formal recommendations for this Award are necessary. Answering the query of BJP leader Bhagirath Choudhary Rai said, “Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian Award was instituted on January 2, 1954. All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex are eligible for this Award. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.”