Padma Awards of India

Padma Awards of India

• Padma Awards is the highest civilian Awards of the country which given on Republic Day (26^th January) of India at Rashtrapati Bhawan every year. It conferred in three categories i.e. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
• All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.

History and Relevance

• The Government of India instituted two civilian awards – Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
• The latter had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg.
• These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.

Who are Eligible to get Padma Award?

• The Awards are given in various fields like art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
• Art (includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre, etc.)
• Social work (includes social service, charitable service, contribution in 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, Sidhha, 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.)

Padma Awards Committee

• 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 and 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 President of India for approval.

Entitlements of Award

• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The recipients of the Padma Awards do not get a monetary award. The winners also receive a duplicate medal, which they may wear during any ceremonial/state functions.
• The Padma award is just an honor. No cash allowance or any facility/benefit in terms of concession etc. in rail/air travel is attached to these awards.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardee’s name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters, books, etc. In the case of any misuse, the awardee will forfeit the award.

Categories of Padma Awards

• The Padma Awards of India are given in the three category on Republic Day (26th January) every year.
  • 1. Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;
    2. Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and
    3. Padma Shri for distinguished service.

Padma Vibhushan

• • • This is the second highest National Award.
    • It instituted on 2nd January 1954 by the Government of India.
    • It is awarded to recognize exceptional and distinguished service to the nation in any field.
    • First awarded in 1954.

Specification of Medal

• • • Circular in design with geometrical pattern superimposed on the circle.
    • The current decoration is a circular-shaped bronze toned medallion 44 mm in diameter and 3.2 mm thick.
    • The geometrical pattern shall be composed of an outer line of a square of 30 mm in side. A raised circular space of 27 mm in diameter is placed at the centre of the decoration.
    • A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text “Padma” written in Devanagari script is placed above and the text “Vibhushan” is placed below the lotus.
    • The Emblem of India is placed in the centre of the reverse side with the national motto of India, “Satyameva Jayate” in Devanagari Script, inscribed on the lower edge.
    • The rim, the edges and all embossing on either side is of white gold with the text “Padma Vibhushan” of silver gilt.
    • The geometrical pattern of seal on both side and the border around the periphery shall be burnished bronze.
    • All embossing on either side shall be of White Gold.
    • The medal is suspended by a pink riband 32 mm in width.

Medal worn

• • • The medal is worn by men on the left side breast with plain lotus pink riband one and a quarter inches in width.
    • The medal is worn by women on the left shoulder with pink riband and the same width fashioned into a bow.

Padma Bhushan

• • • This is the third highest National Awards.
    • It instituted on 2nd January 1954 by the Government of India.
    • It is awarded to recognize exceptional and distinguished service to the nation in any field.

Specification of Medal

• • • It is similar to Padma Vibhushan.
    • Circular in design with geometrical pattern superimposed on the circle.
    • The diameter of bronze toned medallion in the circular portion is 44 mm. Thickness is 3.2 mm.
    • The geometrical pattern shall be composed of an outer line of a square of 30 mm in side. A raised circular space of 27 mm in diameter is placed at the centre of the decoration.
    • A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text “Padma” written in Devanagari script is placed above and the text “Bhushan” is placed below the lotus.
    • The Emblem of India is placed in the centre of the reverse side with the national motto of India, “Satyameva Jayate” in Devanagari Script, inscribed on the lower edge.
    • The geometrical pattern of seal on both side and the border around the periphery shall be burnished bronze.
    • All embossing on either side shall be of standard gold.
    • The medal is suspended by a pink riband 32 mm in width with a broad white stripe in the middle.

The Medal is worn

• • • Medal is worn by men on the left side breast with plain lotus pink ribbon one and a quarter inches in width with a broad white stripe in the middle.
    • Medal is worn by women on the left shoulder with the same color riband and same width fashioned into a bow.

Padma Shri

• • • This is the fourth largest National Awards.
    • It instituted on 2nd January 1954 by the Government of India.
    • It recognizes the contribution of Indian citizens in various spheres of activities including Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Social Service, and Public Life.

Specification of Medal

• • • In this medal, the geometric pattern is given on both sides of the medal, which makes it different from the other Padma medals.
    • Circular in design with a geometrical pattern superimposed on the circle.
    • The diameter of the circular portion is 44 mm. Thickness is 3.2 mm.
    • The geometrical pattern shall be composed of an outer line of a square of one and three-sixteenth inches inside.
    • A centrally located lotus flower is embossed and the text “Padma” written in Devanagari script is placed above and the text “Shri” is placed below the lotus.
    • A platinum State Emblem of India placed in the centre with the national motto of India, “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari Script.
    • The geometrical pattern of the seal on both side and the border around the periphery shall be burnished bronze.
    • All embossing on either side shall be of stainless steel.
    • A white-grey striped purple coloured riband is attached to it.

The medal is worn

• • • The medal is worn by men on the left side breast with plain lotus pink riband one and a quarter inches in width with two narrow white stripes each a quarter-inch distance from the edges of the riband.
    • The medal is worn by women on the left shoulder with the same color riband and the same width fashioned into a bow.

Some Interesting Facts about Padma Awards

• The medals are produced at Alipore Mint, Kolkata along with the other civilian and military awards.
• The first recipients of the Padma Vibhushan were Satyendra Nath Bose, Nandalal Bose, Zakir Husain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, V. K. Krishna Menon, and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, who were honoured in 1954. 
• Aditya Nath Jha, Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq, and Vikram Sarabhai became the first recipients to be honoured posthumously in 1972.
• When instituted in 1954, 23 recipients were honoured with the Padma Bhushan.
• The Padma Awards were suspended between 1977 and 1980 as well as between 1992 and 1998.
• As of 2021, the Padma Vibhushan award has been bestowed on 321 individuals, including 17 posthumous and 21 non-citizen recipients.
• As of 2020, the award has been bestowed on 1270 individuals, including 24 posthumous and 97 non-citizen recipients.

 

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