As a significant recent development, General Bipin Rawat, the first Chief of Defence Staff who tragically died in an air crash, and Kalyan Singh, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh during the time of the Babri Masjid demolition, were posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan on the eve of India’s 73rd Republic Day. The Padma Vibhushan is part of the prestigious Padma series of awards and is recognised as the second highest civilian award in the country.
Background of the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards, introduced on January 26th annually since their institution in 1954, are considered among the highest civilian honors in India. They have been established with the objective of acknowledging exceptional achievements in a broad range of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
Categories and Disciplines of the Padma Awards
The distinction of the Padma Awards is broken down into three major categories: the Padma Vibhushan, which honors exceptional and distinguished service; the Padma Bhushan, acknowledging distinguished service of a higher order; and the Padma Shri, which celebrates distinguished service. In the hierarchy of these awards, the Padma Vibhushan holds the highest position, followed by the Padma Bhushan and then the Padma Shri.
The awards cover a wide array of disciplines and areas of activities, including but not limited to art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
Padma Awards Selection Process
The Padma Awards are bestowed based on recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, an organization constituted by the Prime Minister each year. Subsequently, the awards are presented by the President of India, typically in March or April of each year.
Bharat Ratna: India’s Highest Civilian Award
The Bharat Ratna holds the title as the highest civilian award in the country. This particular award is given in recognition of exceptional service or performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor. It holds a distinct position separate from the Padma Awards.
For the Bharat Ratna, recommendations are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. Notably, the conferring of this award is restricted to a maximum of three recipients in a particular year.
This annual tradition of acknowledging and honoring outstanding achievements and services to the nation continues to underscore the importance of recognizing such contributions to the cultural, economic, and social growth of India. The story of these awards narrates the tale of the nation’s evolution, its heroes, and their notable work in shaping the course of the nation’s destiny.
