Every year, the Government of India bestows awards and honors on individuals or groups in recognition of their remarkable contributions to society. Every year, the Government of India bestows many honors on persons who have excelled in their fields, such as the Bharat Ratna and National Film Awards.
Indian Highest Civilian Award
The highest civilian award in India is the Bharat Ratna, which represents outstanding achievement and exceptional service to the nation. Bharat Ratna is awarded to those who have made outstanding contributions in various sectors. This prestigious award was established in 1954 and is granted in the arts, literature, public service, science, and other fields.
About Highest Civilian Awards
Civilian Awards are given to those who have made remarkable contributions to their field of employment. On Republic Day, the President of India bestows these honors on the recipients. These Civilian awards were established in 1954.
Civilian Awards in India are classified based on the level of honor. The following are the highest civilian awards:
Bharat Ratna– First Highest Civillian Award
Padma Vibhushan– Second (2nd) Highest Civillian Award
Padma Bhushan– Third (3rd) Highest Civillian Award
Padma Shri– Fourth (4th) Highest Civillian Award
About Bharat Ratna Award
The Bharat Ratna is the most prestigious award in India and is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation in various fields. This includes art, literature, science, and public service. In 2013, sports achievements were also included. Unlike knights, awardees do not receive a special title or honorifics, but they are recognized in the Indian order of precedence.
The Bharat Ratna award was established by India's first President, Rajendra Prasad, on January 2, 1954. However, it was temporarily halted from July 13, 1977 to January 26, 1980, along with other important national honors like the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
List Of Fields Eligible For The Bharat Ratna Award
This award is open to anybody, regardless of ethnicity, occupation, position, or gender. The Prime Minister makes recommendations to the President for the Bharat Ratna. There is no need for explicit suggestions in this regard.
Maximum Number Of Bharat Ratna Awardees In A Year
In any given year, the number of yearly awards is limited to a maximum of three. The recipient of the award receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President as well as a medallion.
Description Of Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna Award is a prestigious honor in India that does not come with any monetary prize. The award itself is in the shape of a Peepal leaf made of toned bronze, measuring 5.8 cm long, 4.7 cm wide, and 3.1 mm thick. The front of the leaf features a replica of the Sun and the words "Bharat Ratna" in Devanagari script, while the back includes the State emblem and motto in the same script. The emblem, Sun, and rim are made of platinum, and the inscriptions are in burnished bronze.
According to Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be added at the beginning or end of the recipient's name.
The first award, given in 1954 (C. Rajgopalchari), went to artists who had made remarkable contributions to the fields of art, science, literature, and public service. The requirements were expanded in 2011 to cover any sector of human endeavor.
List Of Bharat Ratna Awardees
Sl.No. | Name | Year | Prime Minister | Party in Power | Province |
1 | C. Rajagopalachari | 1954 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Tamil Nadu |
2 | Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan | 1954 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Tamil Nadu |
3 | C. V. Raman | 1954 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Tamil Nadu |
4 | Bhagwan Das | 1955 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Uttar Pradesh |
5 | M. Visvesvaraya | 1955 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Karnataka |
6 | Jawaharlal Nehru | 1955 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Uttar Pradesh |
7 | Govind Ballabh Pant | 1957 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Uttarakhand |
8 | Dhondo Keshav Karve | 1958 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Maharashtra |
9 | Bidhan Chandra Roy | 1961 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Bihar |
10 | Purushottam Das Tandon | 1961 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Uttar Pradesh |
11 | Rajendra Prasad | 1962 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Bihar |
12 | Zakir Husain | 1963 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Hyderabad |
13 | Pandurang Vaman Kane | 1963 | Jawaharlal Nehru | Indian National Congress | Maharashtra |
14 | Lal Bahadur Shastri | 1966 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Uttar Pradesh |
15 | Indira Gandhi | 1971 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Uttar Pradesh |
16 | V. V. Giri | 1975 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Odisha |
17 | K. Kamaraj | 1976 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Tamil Nadu |
18 | Mother Teresa | 1980 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | North Macedonia |
19 | Vinoba Bhave | 1983 | Indira Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Maharashtra |
20 | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan | 1987 | Rajiv Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Pakistan |
21 | M. G. Ramachandran | 1988 | Rajiv Gandhi | Indian National Congress | Sri Lanka |
22 | B.R. Ambedkar | 1990 | Vishwanath Pratap Singh | Janata Dal (NF) | Madhya Pradesh |
23 | Nelson Mandela | 1990 | Vishwanath Pratap Singh | Janata Dal (NF) | Union of South Africa |
24 | Rajiv Gandhi | 1991 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | Maharashtra |
25 | Vallabhbhai Patel | 1991 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | Gujarat |
26 | Morarji Desai | 1991 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | Gujarat |
27 | Abul Kalam Azad | 1992 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | Saudi Arabia |
28 | J. R. D. Tata | 1992 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | France |
29 | Satyajit Ray | 1992 | P. V. Narasimha Rao | Indian National Congress | West Bengal |
30 | Gulzarilal Nanda | 1997 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (NF) | Pakistan |
31 | Aruna Asaf Ali | 1997 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (NF) | Haryana |
32 | A.P.J Abdul Kalam | 1997 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (NF) | Tamil Nadu |
33 | M. S. Subbulakshmi | 1998 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (NF) | Tamil Nadu |
34 | Chidambaram Subramaniam | 1998 | Inder Kumar Gujral | Janata Dal (NF) | Tamil Nadu |
35 | Jayaprakash Narayan | 1999 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Bihar |
36 | Amartya Sen | 1999 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | West Bengal |
37 | Gopinath Bordoloi | 1999 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Assam |
38 | Ravi Shankar | 1999 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Uttar Pradesh |
39 | Lata Mangeshkar | 2001 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Madhya Pradesh |
40 | Bismillah Khan | 2001 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Bihar |
41 | Bhimsen Joshi | 2009 | Manmohan Singh | Indian National Congress (UPA) | Karnataka |
42 | C. N. R. Rao | 2014 | Manmohan Singh | Indian National Congress (UPA) | Karnataka |
43 | Sachin Tendulkar | 2014 | Manmohan Singh | Indian National Congress (UPA) | Maharashtra |
44 | Madan Mohan Malaviya | 2015 | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Uttar Pradesh |
45 | Atal Bihari Bajpayee | 2015 | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Madhya Pradesh |
46 | Pranab Mukherjee | 2019 | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | West Benagl |
47 | Nanaji Deshmukh | 2019 | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Maharashtra |
48 | Bhupen Hazarika | 2019 | Narendra Modi | Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) | Assam |
About Padma Awards
The Padma Awards, which are prestigious civilian honors in India, are announced every year on Republic Day. Administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs, these awards aim to acknowledge accomplishments in various areas that involve public service. The Prime Minister forms the Padma Awards Committee to recommend deserving individuals for the awards. The nomination process is open to the public, including self-nominations.
List Of Fields To Give Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, And Padma Shri
Padma Awards, which were established in 1954, are announced every year on Republic Day, with the exception of brief interruptions in 1978 and 1979, and 1993 to 1997.
In 1992, the constitutionality of Padma Awards was disputed in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh through a Public Interest Litigation. The awards were put on hold until the matter was resolved in the courts of those states.
These awards are open to all individuals regardless of their race, occupation, position, or gender. However, government employees, except for doctors and scientists, cannot receive these awards.
The award aims to acknowledge outstanding achievements or service in various fields.
Padma Awards: A List Of The Fields
Art (Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre, etc.)
Social work (social service, charitable service, contribution to community projects, etc.)
Public Affairs (Law, Public Life, Politics, etc.)
Science & Engineering (Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects, etc.)
Trade & Industry (Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business, etc.)
Medicine (medical research, distinction/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Allopathy, Naturopathy, etc.)
Literature & Education (Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms, etc.)
Civil Service (distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants)
Sports (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.)
About Padma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian award. This honor is bestowed upon those who have made outstanding contributions to the fields of the arts, literature, science, and public service.
This bronze-toned award features a circular shape with a geometric pattern placed on it. A lotus flower is imprinted in the center of the circular. In Devnagri Script, the words "Padma" and "Vibushan" are engraved above and below the lotus flower. It bears the State Emblem and the State Motto on the back side.
About Padma Bhushan
This is India's third-highest civilian award and is given to persons who have made outstanding contributions in any subject, including government employees such as doctors and scientists, but excludes those who work for public sector organizations.
The design of this award is identical to that of the Padma Vibhushan. The embossing is all done in gold.
About Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian honor in the world. This award is given to those who have made outstanding contributions in any sector, including government service.
The award is formed by superimposing a geometric pattern on a circle. The words "Padma" and "Shri" are imprinted above and below the central lotus blossom. The embossing is done entirely in stainless steel, with the periphery in bronze.
Padma Awards Selection Committee
All Padma Award nominations are presented to the Padma Awards Committee, which is appointed by the Prime Minister each year.
The Cabinet Secretary chairs the Padma Awards Committee, which also comprises the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President, and four to six renowned individuals.
The committee's recommendations are forwarded to the Prime Minister and President of India for approval.
Important Facts About Padma Awards
Normally, the award is not given posthumously. However, in exceptional situations, the government may consider bestowing an award posthumously.
A higher category of Padma award can be given on a person only if at least five years have passed since the previous Padma award was conferred. However, in exceptional instances, the Awards Committee may provide a waiver.
The President of India normally presents the prizes in March/April of each year, and the awardees receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President as well as a medallion.
The awardees are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions, etc. On the day of the presentation ceremony, the names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India.
The total number of awards given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and those given to NRIs/foreigners/OCIs) should not exceed 120.
The award is not a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the name of the recipient.
Padma Awards 2023
This year's Padma Awards, the country's second highest civilian award, highlighted 26 unsung heroes among the 106 awardees. Dilip Mahalanabis, a medical researcher who advocated the use of Oral Rehydration Solution over the world and saved over 5 crore lives, has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Padma Vibhushan Award List 2023
SN | Name | Field | State/Country |
1. | Shri Balkrishna Doshi (Posthumous) | Others – Architecture | Gujarat |
2. | Shri Zakir Hussain | Art | Maharashtra |
3. | Shri S M Krishna | Public Affairs | Karnataka |
4. | Shri Dilip Mahalanabis (Posthumous) | Medicine | West Bengal |
5. | Shri Srinivas Varadhan | Science & Engineering | United States of America |
6. | Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh |
Padma Bhushan 2023 Award List
SN | Name | Field | Staty/Country |
1. | Shri S L Bhyrappa | Literature & Education | Karnataka |
2. | Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra |
3. | Shri Deepak Dhar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra |
4. | Ms. Vani Jairam | Art | Tamil Nadu |
5. | Swami Chinna Jeeyar | Others – Spiritualism | Telangana |
6. | Ms. Suman Kalyanpur | Art | Maharashtra |
7. | Shri Kapil Kapoor | Literature & Education | Delhi |
8. | Ms. Sudha Murty | Social Work | Karnataka |
9. | Shri Kamlesh D Patel | Others – Spiritualism | Telangana |
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