The French Government has given its highest civilian honour to the sitar player, Ravi Shankar.

He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour at a ceremony in Delhi.

Shankar, 79, who popularised Indian classical music around the world, held his first concert in France at the Champs-Elysees Theatre in Paris in 1931 when he was 11 and lived there for several years in the 1930s.

The French ambassador to India, Claude Blanchemaison, described Shankar as "a great musician" and "a citizen of the world".

"You made sitar so famous in our country ... everybody recalls your stay and performance there. Your name is synonymous with music in our country."

Shankar replied in French: "I am honoured and flattered."

He later told reporters he felt had still not attained all his goals in the world of Indian music.

"I always feel I am not there yet. I'm still trying."

Only one other Indian has been given the award - the film-maker Satyajit Ray in 1989.

Last year, the Indian Government awarded its highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, to Shankar.