Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards (2019) At a Glance

Padma Awards

· These awards are one of the highest civilian Awards of the country.
· These awards were instituted and established in 1954.
· These are conferred in three categories
·These awards are one of the highest civilian Awards of the country.

  1.  Padma Vibhushan

  2.  Padma Bhushan

  3.  Padma Shri.  

· These awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities:

   e.g.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil services  etc.

· ‘Padma  Vibhushan’  is  awarded  for  exceptional  and  distinguished  service

·  ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order.

·  ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

·  These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held  at  Rashtrapati  Bhawan  usually around  March or  April  every  year.

·  This  year the President of India has approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).

·  The list comprises :

1.4 Padma Vibhushan

2. 14 Padma Bhushan

3. 94 Padma Shri Awards.

·   21 of the awardees are women and  the  list  also  includes  11  persons  from  the  category  of  Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI.

·  3 Posthumous awardees and 1 transgender person.

· Here is the list of all Padma awardees in pdf format:

Download Pdf

 Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) Award
·It is the highest civilian award of the India. Instituted in 1954.

·In recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex,this award is conferred.
·Earlier this award was limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but in December 2011 Indian government expanded the criteria to include any field of human endeavour .
·The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the  Prime Minister to the President with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year.

·Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a Peepal-leaf–shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award.

·Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence

Obverse- An image of the Sun along with the words "Bharat Ratna", inscribed in Devanagari script, on a peepal (Ficus religiosa) leaf
Reverse - A platinum state emblem of India placed in the centre with the national motto, 'Satyamev Jayate' (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari script Statistics.

Established in 1954

First awarded in 1954
1- C R Cajagopalachari
2- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

3- C. V. Raman

Last awarded in 2019

1. Pranab Mukherjee- Ex President of India
2. Nanaji Deshmukh-A senior RSS Leader,Social Activist in the field of rural development and farmer welfare
3. Bhupen Hazarika-Assamese music maestro

In Preference: Bharat Ratna>Padma Vibhushan>Padma Bhushan>Padma Shri

*Reference-Ministry of Home Affairs