List of Padma awardees – 2021
History
In 1954, the govt of India Instituted two civilian awards- Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. The later award Padma Vibhushan had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg. At a later date, the above three classes are renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide presidential notification issued on the 8th January 1955.
Selection of Padma Awardees
Every year Padma Awards Committee is formed by the Prime Minister. This Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The other members of the committee include Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. After reviewing all nominations, the recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.
Who is Eligible
Any persons without discrimination of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Govt. servants including the officers and employees of PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these awards. The award is normally not conferred posthumously, but in highly deserving cases, the Govt. could consider giving the award posthumously. A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only at least a time-lapse of five years after bestowment of the earlier Padma award and in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Padma Awards Committee.
Different Padma Awards Selection Criteria
- Padma Vibhushan- for exceptional and distinguished service
- Padma Bhushan- for distinguished service of high order
- Padma Shri- for distinguished service in any field.
When this Padma Awards are Announced
Every year, the awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day (except interruptions during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997). These awards are conferred by the President at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April.
This Year Padma Awards Scenario
This year the President has approved conferment of 119 Padma Awards including 1 duo case (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awards. Among the awardees 29 are women and the list includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 16 Posthumous awardees and 1 transgender awardee. The complete list is as follows.