The Padma Awards
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: HT
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: The Padma Awards 2026 were announced on the eve of Republic Day, with the President approving 131 awards across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri categories.
About The Padma Awards:
What it is?
• One of India’s highest civilian honours, conferred to recognise distinguished and exceptional service involving an element of public service across diverse fields.
Established in: 1954 by the Government of India.
History:
• Initially, two civilian awards were instituted in 1954: Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.
• Padma Vibhushan originally had three classes, which were renamed in 1955 as: Padma Vibhushan Padma Bhushan Padma Shri
• Padma Vibhushan
• Padma Bhushan
• Padma Shri
• Awards are announced annually on Republic Day, with brief interruptions during 1978–79 and 1993–97.
Categories & purpose:
• Padma Vibhushan: Exceptional and distinguished service
• Padma Bhushan: Distinguished service of a high order
• Padma Shri: Distinguished service in any field
Eligibility criteria:
• Open to all persons irrespective of race, gender, occupation or position.
• Government servants (including PSU employees) are generally not eligible, except doctors and scientists.
• Normally not conferred posthumously, but allowed in exceptional cases.
• A minimum gap of 5 years is required for a higher Padma category, unless relaxed in deserving cases.
• The award is for “excellence plus” — lifetime achievement with clear public service impact, not merely long service.
Fields recognised:
• Art (music, cinema, theatre, painting, sculpture, etc.)
• Social Work
• Public Affairs
• Science & Engineering
• Trade & Industry
• Medicine (including AYUSH systems)
• Literature & Education
• Civil Service
• Others (culture, human rights, environment, wildlife conservation, etc.)
Key features of the awards:
• Conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Awardees receive a Sanad (certificate) and a medallion; the award does not constitute a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix.
• Total annual awards capped at 120, excluding posthumous and foreign/NRI/OCI awardees.
• Selection is based on recommendations of the Padma Awards Committee, constituted annually by the Prime Minister and headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
• Public nominations, including self-nominations, are permitted, reinforcing transparency and inclusiveness.