Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday became the first woman lawmaker to receive an outstanding parliamentarian award.

"Smt. Sushma Swaraj has performed her role as a member of Parliamentarian alternating between the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and also between the Treasury and the Opposition benches with commendable versatility," read the citation.

She received the award from President Pratibha Patil [Images], the country's first woman head of state, in the Central Hall of Parliament.

"A great champion of democratic values, she has consciously and ceaselessly strived to uphold the dignity and decorum of Parliament," the citation said.