Padma Awards 2020

• 27 Jan 2020

Why in News

The Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26^th January).

• Instituted in the year 1954, it is one of the highest civilian honours of India.
• The Award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• The Awards are given in three categories:
  • Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service),
  • Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher-order) and
  • Padma Shri (distinguished service).
• 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, civil service, etc.
• The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.
• 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.
  
  • In 2020, the President has approved conferment of 141 Padma Awards including 4 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one).
  • The list comprises of 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhushan and 118 Padma Shri Awards.

Note: Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.

• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
• The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.

Source: PIB