Padma Awards

• 02 Jun 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News? 

The President of India presented Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awards for the year 2025 to 139 distinguished persons whose names were announced on the eve of the 76^th Republic day 2025. 

What are Padma Awards? 

• About: Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours, announced annually on Republic Day (26th January).  
  • Their objective is to honour excellence in various fields involving public service. 
• Categories: The Awards are given in 3 categories: 
  • Padma Vibhushan: For exceptional and distinguished service 
  • Padma Bhushan: For distinguished service of high order 
  • Padma Shri: For distinguished service. 
  • The Padma Vibhushan is the highest among the Padma Awards, followed by the Padma Bhushan and then the Padma Shri. 
• Presentation and Recognition: Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India in March/April, with recipients receiving a Sanad, medallion, and a replica for ceremonial use.  
• Disciplines: The awards are presented across diverse fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, and more. 
• Eligibility: All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. 
  • Since 2014, the government has been recognizing "unsung heroes" with the Padma Awards, transforming them into the "People's Padma". This year, 30 such individuals were honoured. 
• Jury Composition: All Padma Award nominations are reviewed by the Padma Awards Committee, appointed annually by the Prime Minister and chaired by the Cabinet Secretary.  
  • The committee includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons as members. 
  • Its recommendations are submitted to the Prime Minister and President for final approval. 
• Limitations: Padma Awards are generally not given posthumously, and a higher category award is only granted after five years unless the Awards Committee makes an exception.  
  • The award is not a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient's name. 
  • It is limited to a maximum of 120 awards per year (excluding posthumous, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), foreigner, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) recipients). 

Note: Padma awards were not conferred during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997. 

• Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution abolishes and prohibits the state from conferring titles on individuals, except for military and academic distinctions.  
  • Awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri are exempt as they recognize exceptional work.  
  • In Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996), the court ruled that national awards are not titles under Article 18(1). 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards: (2021)

1. Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards are titles under the Article 18(1) of the Constitution of India. 
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once. 
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year. 

Which of the above statements are not correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only  

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only  

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d)