Padma Awards  

Padma Awards

• They are one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, instituted in 1954, and are conferred in 3 categories.
• Padma Vibhushan – It is for exceptional and distinguished service.
• Padma Bhushan – It is for distinguished service of a high order.
• Padma Shri – It is for distinguished service in any field.

Awarded by

• The awards are presented by the President of India every year.
• The awardees are presented with a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.

Field of achievements/service

• They are given in various disciplines/fields of activity.
• It includes art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

Recommended by

• Padma Awards are conferred based on recommendations of the Padma Awards Committee.
• The committee is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

Nomination

• The nomination process is open to the public.

• Self-nominations are also permitted.

Eligibility

• All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.

Exclusion

• Government servants, including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.

Exception

• The award is normally not conferred posthumously.
• However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.

Ceiling

• 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.

Non-Titular

• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardee’s name.

Padma Awards Committee

• It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members.
• The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.