Recently, President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma awards to 71 eminent individuals during the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

About Padma Awards

• The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honors, given in three categories:
  • Padma Vibhushan: Awarded for exceptional and distinguished service.
  • Padma Bhushan: Awarded for distinguished service of a high order.
  • Padma Shri: Awarded for distinguished service in any field.
• The awards are announced annually on January 26, Republic Day.
• Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards recognize distinguished contributions in various fields of public life.
• The awards were not presented in the years 1978, 1979, and from 1993 to 1997.
• Objective: To acknowledge exceptional and distinguished service across various disciplines and activities.
• Disciplines: Padma Awards are conferred across disciplines like art, literature, education, science, engineering, sports, social work, public affairs, medicine, trade and industry, civil service, etc.
• Eligibility
  • All individuals, irrespective of occupation, position, race, or gender, are eligible for the Padma Awards.
  • Government servants (except doctors and scientists working in PSUs) are generally not eligible.
• Nomination
  • Nominations for Padma Awards can be submitted by any Indian citizen, including self-nomination.
  • Recommendations are invited from Central and State governments, ministries, previous Bharat Ratna/Padma Vibhushan awardees, and institutions of excellence.
• Panel for Award
  • The Padma Awards Committee is constituted annually by the Prime Minister and is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
  • It includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 4–6 eminent persons as members.
• Final Approval
• • The final list of awardees is approved by the Home Minister, Prime Minister, and President of India.
  • The list is announced publicly on the eve of Republic Day each year.
• Conferred by: The Padma Awards are formally presented by the President of India in a ceremonial function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually in March or April.

Other Important Facts

• An individual may be awarded a higher category Padma honor only after five years of receiving a previous one, barring exceptional cases.
• The total number of awards in a year, excluding posthumous and foreign/NRI/OCI recipients, should not exceed 120.
• The awards do not bestow a title and should not be used as a prefix or suffix to the awardee’s name.

About 2025 Padma Award List

• The 2025 Padma Awards include 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honors.
• Among the awardees, 23 are women, 10 are Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, and 13 received the awards posthumously.
• The list also features 1 duo award and celebrates the contributions of 30 unsung heroes, including 100-year-old Goa freedom fighter Libia Lobo Sardesai.
  

Some Notable Padma Awards conferred at Civil Investiture Ceremony-I