Padma Awards

• Context (PIB | IE): Padma Awards for 2024 were announced. The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards.
• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India.
• Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

History

• The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
• The latter had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg.
• These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.

Categories

• The award is given in three categories, namely,
  1. Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;
  2. Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and
  3. Padma Shri for distinguished service.

Eligibility

• All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.
• Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
• The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
• A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.
• The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.

Selection

• All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
• Recommendations of the committee are submitted to the PM and President for approval.
• The awards are presented by the President usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.