File Photo Since 2003, Indian Airlines/ Alliance Air Network has provided free lifetime air travel to all Bharat Ratna awardees. However, according to India Today, Nobel laureate and Bharat Ratna awardee Amartya Sen is the only awardee to avail this perk and that to 21 times in 4 years. India Today had filed a Right to Information (RTI) request with Air India to know when the central government decided to grant this perk to Bharat Ratna recipients. Responding to their query, Air India said, "...the procedure for issuance of free tickets to Bharat Ratna awardees was circulated by erstwhile Indian Airlines on 25/08/2003." In 2003, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government was at the Centre.