Context:
The Centre has announced Padma Awards 2025 on Republic day.
Padma Awards:
- One of the Highest civilian honours of India
- Announced annually on the eve of Republic Day
- Interrupted years – 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997
- Awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
- Categories of awards – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri
- Awardees are decided by Padma Awards Committee recommendations
- Maximum per year – 120 awards
- This does not include Padma awards presented to foreigners and also those awarded posthumously.
- Nomination – open to public including self-nomination.
- Exceptions –
- Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible
- Generally, not conferred posthumously (after once death) but in highly deserving cases, the Government can decide.
- Can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least 5 years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award.
- In terms of Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient’s name.
| Padma Vibhushan | Padma Bhushan | Padma Shri |
| 2nd highest civilian Award after Bharat Ratna For exceptional and distinguished service | 3rd highest civilian Award For distinguished service of higher order | 4th highest civilian Award For distinguished service |
Padma Awards Committee:
- Constituted by – Prime Minister
- Constituted every year.
- Headed by the Cabinet Secretary
- Members – Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and 4 to 6 eminent persons as members.
- Recommendations submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:
1. Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2. Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.
Which of the above statements are not correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
National awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri do not amount to titles within the meaning of Article 18(1) of the Constitution thus cannot be used as prefixes or suffixes to the name of the recipient in any manner.
Statement 2 is incorrect:
There were 2 interrupted years – 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997
Statement 3 is incorrect:
A maximum of 3 people can be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
