Info Nuggets

Awards and honours

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Updated At : 05:28 AM May 03, 2025 IST

President Droupadi Murmu confers the Padma Bhushan award to former Indian Hockey goalkeeper and the current Coach of the Junior Indian Hockey team Sreejesh P. R. for his contribution to the field of Sports during a ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. ANI

PADMA BHUSHAN: HONOURING DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

What is the Padma Bhushan?

The Padma Bhushan is India’s third-highest civilian award, recognising distinguished service of a high order in various fields. Instituted in 1954, it honours outstanding contributions without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex.

Key facts

Award criteria: The Padma Bhushan recognises distinguished service in any field, including government service (except public sector undertakings).

Selection process: Recommendations are received from state and union territory governments, ministries and previous award recipients. The Padma Awards Committee, convened by the Prime Minister, submits recommendations to the President for approval.

Recipients: As of 2025, the award has been bestowed upon 1341 individuals, including 38 posthumous and 101 non-citizen recipients.

History and design

The Padma Bhushan was initially part of the three-tier Padma Vibhushan award, reclassified in 1955.

The award design features a circular bronze-toned medallion with a lotus flower and the words “Padma Bhushan” in Devanagari script.

Suspensions and controversies

The award was suspended twice: from 1977-1980 and 1992-1995, due to controversies and court cases.

Did you know?

The Padma Bhushan award recipients are announced on Republic Day (January 26) every year and the conferment is published in The Gazette of India.