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News: President Droupadi Murmu will present Padma Awards for the year 2026 on the 25th of May month.
About Padma Awards 2026
| Aspects | Details |
| History | 1) The Government of India instituted two civilian awards–Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954. 2) Padma Vibhushan had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg. 3) These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955. |
| About | 1) The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India. 2) They are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. 3) These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March / April every year. |
| Ministry | The awards come under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs. |
| Objective | To acknowledge achievements in all fields of activities or discipline where element of public service is involved. |
| Categories | The Awards are given in three categories: 1) Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), 2) Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and 3) Padma Shri (distinguished service).
|
| Discipline | The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, music etc. |
| Eligibility | All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these Awards. |
| Selection process | 1) All nominations received for the Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee constituted by the Prime Minister every year. 2) The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. 3) The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval. |
| Some important facts | 1) The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120. 2) The award does not amount to title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name. 3) These were discontinued in 1978 and 1979 and from 1993 to 1997. |
