On the 72nd Republic Day, the government announced the Padma Awards 2021. The prestigious awards are conferred annually to recognize and honor distinguished individuals in various fields. This year’s announcement included a distribution of 119 awards across three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
Awardees of 2021
Of the total 119 awards, 7 were Padma Vibhushan, 10 were Padma Bhushan, and 102 were Padma Shri. Some of the prominent awardees in each category include former Japanese Prime Minister Shri Shinzo Abe and late playback singer Shri S P Balasubramaniam (Posthumous) for Padma Vibhushan; renowned playback singer Ms. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra and former speaker of the Lok Sabha Ms. Sumitra Mahajan for Padma Bhushan; and artist Shri Gulfam Ahmed and sportsperson Ms. P. Anitha for Padma Shri.
The History of Padma Awards
The government instituted the Padma Awards in 1954. They are announced annually on Republic Day, 26th January, and are considered to be one of the highest civilian honors of India. Their objective extends beyond just recognizing achievements; they aim to celebrate contributions in all fields or disciplines with an element of public service involved.
Understanding the Categories
The Padma Awards are divided into three categories: Padma Vibhushan, awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan, given for distinguished service of higher order; and Padma Shri, presented for distinguished service. The Padma Vibhushan sits at the top of the hierarchy, followed by Padma Bhushan and then the Padma Shri.
Disciplines Covered by the Awards
The awards span a wide array of disciplines and fields of activities. These include art, social work, public affairs, science, engineering, trade, industry, medicine, literature, education, sports, and civil service amongst others.
The Selection Process
A committee, appointed by the Prime Minister each year, handles the secondary selection for the Padma Awards. The President of India traditionally confers the awards in March or April every year based on recommendations made by this committee.
The Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award conferred in India. It acknowledges exceptional service or performance in any field of human endeavour. Although prestigious like the Padma Awards, it is considered separately. Recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India and the number of recipients is capped at three per year.
Last Modified: February 10, 2024