State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 29 May 2025

Padma Awardees From Bihar 2025

Why in News? 

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards 2025 to 139 distinguished individuals at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Among them, seven personalities from Bihar were honored with Padma Awards in 2025. 

Key Points 

Padma Awardees from Bihar 

Name	Award	Field	Description
Dr. Sharda Sinha	Padma Vibhushan (Posthumous)	Art	She was affectionately known as the “Bihar Kokila”.   She gained national acclaim for her Chhath songs, which became deeply associated with the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Chhath festival.
Sushil Kumar Modi	Padma Bhushan (Posthumous)	Public Affairs	He was a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and was posthumously conferred the award for his distinguished service in public affairs.
Kishore Kunal	Padma Shri (Posthumous)	Civil Service	Kishore Kunal was a former IPS officer and served as the Chairman of the Mahavir Mandir Trust.   He was recognized for his contributions to religious and charitable service.
Bhim Singh Bhavesh	Padma Shri	Social Work	He is a journalist who worked extensively with the Musahar community, a marginalized group in Bihar, to help children gain access to formal education.
Hemant Kumar	Padma Shri	Medicine	He has been instrumental in both treatment and preventive education around kidney diseases, helping raise awareness and improve patient outcomes.
Nirmala Devi	Padma Shri	Art	She is an artist and was conferred the Padma Shri in recognition of her work in the field of folk and traditional art (Sujni embroidery).   Sujni is a traditional folk textile art from Bihar, known for storytelling through stitches.
Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj	Padma Shri	Others – Spiritualism	He was recognized with the Padma Shri for his contribution to spiritual education and practice in Bihar.

Padma Awards 

• The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honors in India, instituted in 1954. 
• They are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day and presented by the President of India. 
• The awards are given in three categories: 
  • Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service) 
  • Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a high order) 
  • Padma Shri (for distinguished service in any field) 
• Eligibility and Fields: 
  • All individuals, regardless of race, occupation, or gender, are eligible. 
  • Government servants (except doctors and scientists) are not eligible. 
  • Fields include: 
    • Art (music, cinema, painting, etc.) 
    • Social Work and Public Affairs 
    • Science & Engineering, Medicine, Literature & Education 
    • Civil Service, Trade & Industry, Sports 
    • Other categories like human rights, environmental protection, and promotion of Indian culture. 
• Selection and Nomination: 
  • Nominations are open to the public and self-nomination is allowed. 
  • The Padma Awards Committee, formed annually by the Prime Minister, evaluates all nominations. 
  • The committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 4–6 eminent persons. 
• Award Presentation and Rules: 
  • Awards are typically presented in March/April each year. 
  • Each recipient receives a certificate (Sanad) and a medallion; a replica can be worn during official events. 
  • The names of awardees are published in the Gazette of India. 
  • The award is not a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix. 
  • Normally, a maximum of 120 awards are given per year (excluding posthumous, NRI/foreigners/OCIs). 
  • Awards are rarely given posthumously, but exceptions are made for highly deserving cases. 
  • A minimum gap of five years is required between two Padma awards for the same individual, unless exceptionally justified.