Padma Awards for 2023

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Awards at a Civil Investiture Ceremony that was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan recently. The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards of the country, and this year, 106 individuals were recognized for their exceptional and distinguished service in various fields.

Padma Awards Categories

The Padma Awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognize excellence in various disciplines and fields of activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, among others.

Padma Vibhushan – Exceptional and Distinguished Service

The Padma Vibhushan, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. The award is given for exceptional and distinguished service in any field, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex. All individuals, except government servants including those working with PSUs, are eligible for these awards.

Padma Bhushan – Distinguished Service of a High Order

The Padma Bhushan, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. The award is given for distinguished service of a high order, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex. The award criteria include service in any field, including service rendered by government servants, doctors, and scientists. However, those working with public sector undertakings are not eligible for this award.

Padma Shri – Distinguished Contribution in Various Spheres

The Padma Shri, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Padma Bhushan. The award recognizes distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity, including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service, and public affairs.

Padma Award Recipients 2023

This year, among the 106 Padma Award recipients, six were conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, nine with the Padma Bhushan, and 91 with the Padma Shri. The awardees included prominent personalities such as Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro; KM Birla, industrialist; and Sudha Murty, social worker and author.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2023

Category: Awards, Honours & Persons in News