Context: –  Three Padma Awards Recently, President DroupadiMurmu confers 54 Padma Awards for the year 2023.

About Padma Awards: –

• The Padma Award are one of the highest civilian honours of India.
• Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954.
• It is announced every year on

the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

• It is announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
• The Awards are given in three categories:-
  • Padma Vibhushan: for exceptional and distinguished service
  • Padma Bhushan: distinguished service of higher order
  • Padma Shri: distinguished service.
• The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The nomination process is open to the public.
• Even self-nomination can be made.

Historical Background: –

• The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna& Padma Vibhushan in
• The latter had three classes namely PahelaVarg, DusraVarg and TisraVarg.
• These were subsequently renamed Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri in 1955.
• Eligibility:-
  • All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.
  • Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
• The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines: –
  • Art: includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre etc.
  • Social work: includes social service, charitable service, contribution to community projects etc.
  • Public Affairs: includes Law, Public Life, Politics etc.
  • Science & Engineering: includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects etc.
  • Trade & Industry: includes Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business etc.
  • Medicine: includes medical research, distinction/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Allopathy, Naturopathy etc.
  • Literature & Education: includes Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms etc.
  • Civil Service: includes distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants
  • Sports: includes popular Sports, Athletics, Adventure, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, Yoga etc.
  • Others: fields not covered above and may include propagation of Indian Culture, protection of Human Rights, Wild Life protection/conservation etc.
• The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year.
• The awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc.
• 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.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

Selection Process: –

• All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
• It includes 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 Presidentof India for approval.

BHARAT RATNA

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in the country.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.
• The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
• No formal recommendations for Bharat Ratna are necessary.
• The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
• The government has conferred Bharat Ratna Award on 45 persons to date.