Padma Awards 2021

• 27 Jan 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Padma Awards for the year 2021 were announced on the occasion of 72^nd Republic Day.

Key Points

• Awardees (2021):
  
  • A total of 119 Padma awards will be conferred, including 7 padma vibhushan, 10 padma bhushan and 102 padma shri.
• Few Padma Vibhushan Awardees (out of 7)
  
  • Shri Shinzo Abe (Japan), Shri S P Balasubramaniam (Posthumous), Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde (Medicine), Shri Sudarshan Sahoo (Art), etc.
• Few Padma Bhushan Awardees (out of 10)
  
  • Ms. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, Shri Tarun Gogoi, Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, etc.
• Few Padma Shri Awardees (out of 102)
  
  • Shri Gulfam Ahmed (Art), Ms. P. Anitha (Sports), Shri Rama Swamy Annavarapu (Art), etc.
• Background:
  
  • The Padma Awards are announced annually on the Republic Day (26^th January).
  • Instituted in 1954, it is one of the highest civilian honours of India.
• Objective:
  
  • The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• Categories:
  
  • The Awards are given in three categories:
    
    • Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service),
    • Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and
    • Padma Shri (distinguished service).
  • Padma Vibhushan is highest in the hierarchy of Padma Awards followed by Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• Disciplines:
  
  • The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service etc.
• Selection Process:
  
  • Padma Awards Committee: The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
  • Awarded by President: The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year.

Bharat Ratna

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
• The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.

Source: IE