January 26, 2025: The prestigious Padma Awards for 2025 were announced on the eve of India's 76th Republic Day, recognizing 139 exceptional individuals for their contributions in various fields. The awards, include 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awardees.
Padma Vibhushan (7)
The Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award, is being conferred on seven remarkable individuals:
- Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy (Medicine, Telangana) – Renowned for his advancements in gastroenterology.
- Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar (Public Affairs, Chandigarh) – Former Chief Justice of India.
- Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia (Art, Gujarat) – Renowned Kathak dancer.
- Lakshminarayana Subramaniam (Art, Karnataka) – Legendary violinist.
- M. T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous) (Literature and Education, Kerala) – Acclaimed writer and filmmaker.
- Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous) (Trade and Industry, Japan) – Pioneer in automotive innovation.
- Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) (Art, Bihar) – Folk singer celebrated for her Bhojpuri music.
Padma Bhushan (19)
Nineteen individuals have been honored with the Padma Bhushan for their contributions:
- A Surya Prakash (Literature and Education - Journalism, Karnataka)
- Anant Nag (Art, Karnataka)
- Bibek Debroy (Posthumous) (Literature and Education, Delhi)
- Jatin Goswami (Art, Assam)
- Jose Chacko Periappuram (Medicine, Kerala)
- Kailash Nath Dikshit (Archaeology, Delhi)
- Manohar Joshi (Posthumous) (Public Affairs, Maharashtra)
- Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti (Trade and Industry, Tamil Nadu)
- Nandamuri Balakrishna (Art, Andhra Pradesh)
- P. R. Sreejesh (Sports, Kerala)
- Pankaj Patel (Trade and Industry, Gujarat)
- Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous) (Art, Maharashtra)
- Rambahadur Rai (Literature and Education - Journalism, Uttar Pradesh)
- Sadhvi Ritambhara (Social Work, Uttar Pradesh)
- S. Ajith Kumar (Art, Tamil Nadu)
- Shekhar Kapur (Art, Maharashtra)
- Shobana Chandrakumar (Art, Tamil Nadu)
- Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) (Public Affairs, Bihar)
- Vinod Dham (Science and Engineering, USA)
Padma Shri (113)
The Padma Shri, awarded for distinguished service in various disciplines, recognizes 113 achievers from diverse fields, including:
- Arijit Singh (Art, West Bengal) – Renowned playback singer.
- Anil Kumar Boro (Literature and Education, Assam)
- Barry John (Art, Delhi) – Eminent theatre artist.
- Harvinder Singh (Sports, Haryana) – Paralympic archer.
- R. Ashwin (Sports, Tamil Nadu) – Indian cricketer.
- Ricky Kej (Art, Karnataka) – Grammy-winning music composer.
- Gita Upadhyay (Literature and Education, Assam)
- Reba Kanta Mahanta (Art, Assam)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the awardees, stating, “These remarkable individuals have set an example of excellence and dedication. Their achievements inspire countless Indians and showcase the power of perseverance and passion.”
The Padma Awards have long stood as a symbol of India’s recognition of exceptional talent and selfless service. The recipients will be formally honored in a grand ceremony later this year.