A centrally located lotus flower is embossed and the text "Padma" written in Devanagari script is placed above and the text "Bhushan" is placed below the lotus.
Reverse
A platinum State Emblem of India placed in the centre with the national motto of India, "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari Script
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.[1] Instituted on 2January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.[2] The recipients receive a Sanad, a certificate signed by the President of India and a circular-shaped medallion with no monetary association. The recipients are announced every year on Republic Day (26January) and registered in The Gazette of India—a publication used for official government notices and released weekly by the Department of Publication, under the Ministry of Urban Development.[3] The conferral of the award is not considered official without its publication in the Gazette. The name of a recipient, whose award has been revoked or restored, both of which require the authority of the President, is archived and they are required to surrender their medal when their name is struck from the register.[4] As of 2019[update], none of the conferments of Padma Bhushan during 2010s have been revoked or restored. The recommendations are received from all the state and the union territory governments, as well as from Ministries of the Government of India, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan awardees, the Institutes of Excellence, the Ministers, the Chief Ministers and the Governors of State, and the Members of Parliament including private individuals.[3]
When instituted in 1954, the Padma Bhushan was classified as "Dusra Warg" (Class II) under the three-tier Padma Vibhushan awards, which were preceded by the Bharat Ratna in hierarchy. On 15January 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was reclassified into three different awards as the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.[3] The criteria included "distinguished service of a high order in any field including service rendered by Government servants", but excluded those working with the public sector undertakings with the exception of doctors and scientists. The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards; this was subsequently modified in the January 1955 statute.[4] The design was also changed to the form that is currently in use; it portrays a circular-shaped toned bronze medallion 1+3⁄4 inches (44 mm) in diameter and 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) thick. The centrally placed pattern made of outer lines of a square of 1+3⁄16 inches (30 mm) side is embossed with a knob carved within each of the outer angles of the pattern. A raised circular space of diameter 1+1⁄16 inches (27 mm) is placed at the centre of the decoration. A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text "Padma" is placed above and the text "Bhushan" is placed below the lotus written in Devanagari script. The State Emblem of India is displayed in the centre of the reverse side, together with the national motto of India, "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari script, which is inscribed on the lower edge. The rim, the edges and all embossing on either side is of standard gold with the text "Padma Bhushan" of gold gilt. The medal is suspended by a pink riband 1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) in width with a broad white stripe in the middle.[3][4] It is ranked fifth in the order of precedence of wearing of medals and decorations of the Indian civilian and military awards.[a]
As of 2023, a total of 51 individuals have been conferred with the award and have been conferred upon six foreign recipients – one from Bangladesh and Mexico each and six from the United States of America. Individuals from ten different fields were awarded, which includes one from medical field, two civil servants, sportspersons and from Science & Engineering field each, three from social work, seven artists, eight from literature and education, nine from trade and industry, eleven from public affairs, and six from other fields. Most recently on 25 January 2023, the award has been bestowed upon nine recipients.[6]
Popularly known as "Sri M." and "Sri Madhukarnath", is a yogi, spiritual guide, social reformer and educationist, and an initiate of the Nath tradition of Hinduism and is the disciple of Sri Maheshwarnath Babaji, who was a disciple of Sri Guru Babaji (Mahavatar Babaji).
Author who wrote in Odia and English. His research in the archives of London and Edinburgh brought to light some of the little-known facts of India's freedom struggle in the first decade of the twentieth century led by Sri Aurobindo and his deeper quest led him to mysticism and he was an inmate of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry since 1963. Conferred Padma Shri in 2001.
Architect and a noted figure in Indian architecture. Considered as a "pioneer of low-cost housing" and known for his contributions to the evolution of architectural discourse in India. Having worked under Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn, he was a pioneer of modernist and brutalist architecture in India. Conferred Padma Shri in 1976 and Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2023.[8]
Social activist known for her protest against social injustice and for work towards upliftment of the landless, and the poor; and fought against governments as well as big industries. Conferred Padma Shri in 1989.
Environmentalist, green activist, and the founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization. His works majorly includes developing sustainable technologies that are ecology inclusive economy for ecosystem development. Known for coining the term GEP (gross environmental product), an ecological growth measure parallel to GDP which has been accepted as a growth measure by the state of Uttarakhand in 2021. Conferred Padma Shri in 2006.
Professional badminton player. Considered one of India's most successful sportspersons, she has won medals at various tournaments such as the Olympics and on the BWF circuit, including a gold at the 2019 World Championships. She is the first and only Indian to become the badminton world champion, the only second individual athlete from India and the first Indian woman athlete to win two consecutive medals at the Olympic Games. Conferred Padma Shri in 2015.
Industrialist and chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company and Sundaram-Clayton Limited, and founder of Srinivasan Services Trust. Conferred Padma Shri in 2010.
Playback singer and Carnatic musician. In a career spanning over four decades, she has recorded over 18,000 songs in various Indian languages, as well as foreign languages and is also known for her extensive history of collaboration with music composers like A. R. Rahman, Ilaiyaraja, Hamsalekha, M. M. Keeravani and with the playback singers K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam over the years. She is regarded as a cultural icon of South Indian states and is called as the "Melody Queen of Indian Cinema". Conferred Padma Shri in 2005.
Prominent poet, playwright, folklorist, film director in Kannada language and the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi and is known for effective adaptation of the North Karnataka dialect of the Kannada language in his plays, and poems. His plays mainly revolve around folk or mythology interlinked with contemporary issues, inculcating modern lifestyle with his hard-hitting poems and became a pioneer of such literature. His contribution as a playwright is significant not only to Kannada theatre but also to the Indian theatre in general as he achieved a blend of the folk and the modern theatrical forms. Conferred Padma Shri in 2001.
Islamic scholar, known as "Mufakir-e-Islam" and "Hakem-e-Ummat", engaged on religious and social issues with the Muslim masses in mid 1970s and was moved by the pathetic condition of the community and worked towards spreading education and knowledge on modern lines and waged a community wide war against illiteracy and ignorance.
Billionaire businessperson and founder chairman of UPL limited and is considered as "India's crop protection king" for his role in pioneering red phosphorus manufacturing in India.
Former civil servant and politician who served as a member of Rajya Sabha from 2004 till 2010 and as Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities from 2003 till 2006. Prior to joining politics, he served as Press Secretary to the President of India from 1983 to 1987 and as Chairman of Delhi Tourism from 1997 till 1999.
Punjabi folk singer known as "Lambi hek di malika" (transl. Queen of singing in an extended breath) for her long hek (transl. holding breath during a song) that she could hold for about 45 seconds. She was the first Punjabi female singer to sing on Doordarshan.
Businessman and chairman of Tata Sons. Formerly served as chief operating officer and executive director of Tata Consultancy Services and assumed the chair of B20 India and will lead the business agenda during India's G20 presidency.
Indian-born British-American actress, food and travel writer, and television personality and is recognized for bringing Indian cuisine to the western hemisphere with her debut cookbook, An Invitation to Indian Cooking (1973).
Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events and the first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics, thus becoming the most decorated Indian Paralympic player after winning his third medal, a silver at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo. Conferred Padma Shri in 2012.
Indian-American business executive currently serving as the executive chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. Prior to becoming the chairman, he served as executive vice president of Microsoft's cloud and enterprise group, responsible for building and running the company's computing platforms.
Billionaire businessman, and the chairman and managing director of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which includes the Serum Institute of India, an Indian biotech company which is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world. Contributed in production of vaccines during COVID-19. Conferred Padma Shri in 2005.
Indian-born Mexican scientist and winner of the 2014 World Food Prize for his scientific research in developing 480 wheat varieties that have been released in 51 countries which led to an increase in world wheat production – by more than 200 million tons – building upon the successes of the Green Revolution. Conferred Padma Shri in 2001.
Academic and writer of Odia language novels and stories and has active interest in social reform and has fought against social injustice on many occasions. Notable works include Yajnaseni, Shilapadma. Conferred Padma Shri in 2007.
Former professor, considered a scholar in Nyāya Sūtras, an ancient Indian Sanskrit text composed by Akṣapāda Gautama, and the foundational text of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy.
Conferred as a duo honour, scientists and entrepreneurs and co-founders of Bharat Biotech. Known for their role in developing India's own COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin.
Novelist, philosopher and screenwriter who writes in Kannada and is widely regarded as one of modern India's popular novelists. His novels are unique in terms of theme, structure, and characterization and has been among the top-selling authors in the Kannada language. Conferred Padma Shri in 2016.
Playback singer in Indian cinema, fondly referred to as "Meera of modern India" and had a career spanning over five decades. She did playback for over one thousand Indian movies recording over 10,000 songs. In addition, she recorded thousands of devotionals and private albums and also participated in numerous solo concerts in India and abroad.
More formally known as "Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami", is a religious guru and yogi ascetic known for his spiritual discourses on Sri Vaishnavism subscribed to Thenkalai tradition of Sri Vaishnavism, and is the designer and planner of the Statue of Equality, a statue dedicated to Ramanujacharya, in Hyderabad.
Playback singer and one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in the country. She recorded songs for movies in several languages besides Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Bengali, Odia and Punjabi and is considered among the popular singers of her prime time.
Scholar of linguistics and literature and an authority on Indian intellectual traditions. Best known for his teaching and research areas include literary and linguistic theories, both Indian and Western, the philosophy of language, nineteenth century British life, literature and thought and Indian intellectual traditions and has written and lectured extensively on these themes.
Educator, author and philanthropist who is chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and a member of the public health care initiatives of the Gates Foundation. Founded several orphanages, participated in rural development efforts, supported the movement to provide all Karnataka government schools with computer and library facilities. Conferred Padma Shri in 2006.
Popularly known as "Daaji", is a spiritual leader, author and the fourth in the line of Rāja yoga masters in the Sahaj Marg system of spiritual practice and he has been the president of Shri Ram Chandra Mission. Regularly conducts workshops and has written two books on the topics of meditation and spirituality.
Jurist, who served as the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first Muslim woman to be appointed to any of the higher judiciaries in the country. Upon retiring from the court, she served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission and later as the governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.
Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Aluminium Limited and patron and chief architect of the Sitaram Jindal Foundation and its associate trusts. Best known for his philanthropical works believing that the most practical and meaningful way to give back to the society is to bring hope to the poor and downtrodden in distress.
2024
Young Liu*
Trade & Industry
Taiwan
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Hon Hai Technology Group (FOXCONN), the world's largest electronics manufacturer and the leading global science and technology solutions provider.
Cardiologist and one of the pioneers of interventional cardiology in India. Currently serving as the director of Cardiology department at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai and at Breach Candy Hospital, as a consultant. He is reported to have performed the first Cardiac catheterization and Angiography in newborn babies in India, in 1973, the year when he introduced Bundle Electrography in the country. Also credited with the performance or supervision of over 35,000+ angioplasties and over 75,000+ angiographies. Conferred Padma Shri in 2004.
Politician who served as Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Communications, Chemicals and Fertilizers, etc. under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Also served as state president for West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party and as an Additional Solicitor General of India prior to his election to the Lok Sabha in 1999.
One of the leading cardiologists in India and is currently serving as the chairman and chief interventional cardiologist at Apex Heart Institute, Ahmedabad. Best known for his groundbreaking achievements in the field of interventional cardiology and as the pioneer of transradial angioplasty in India.
Politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party who served as a Union Minister of State under prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 until 2004 holding various portfolios including Defence, Parliamentary Affairs, Law and Justice, Urban Development, etc. Holds the distinction of being the first legislator belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party to be elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Popularly known as Rajdutt, he is a veteran actor and director and has been felicitated with several Maharashtra State Film Awards. Best known for his work in Marathi cinema and family dramas and also won the Rajat Kamal Award for his Marathi films – Shapit and Sarja. Also participated in Satyagraha and went to jail during the Goa liberation movement.
Buddhist spiritual leader, enthroned as the leader of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism for Ladakh in 1943 and served as the Head Lama for all Tibetan Buddhist Lineages in Ladakh. He was one of the most senior Lamas for the Drikung Kagyu and Nyingma lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. Also played an active role in politics from the 1960s and was elected as the first leader of the Ladakh Action Committee, until 2003.
Composer, music director, orchestrator, conductor who composed duo along with Laxmikant Kudalkar under the name of Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Best known for his popular compositions of Indian classical music as well as Western music and for their folk tunes and semi-classical music. For Shagird, they composed Rock-n-Roll-style melodies, and in Karz the music is closer to disco. Composed music for more than 750 movies between 1963 and 1998.
Pop, filmi, jazz, and playback singer known for her works along with music directors R. D. Burman and Bappi Lahiri. She also reprised some of R. D. Burman songs that were sung by others such as "Mehbooba Mehbooba" and "Dum Maro Dum" and popularised them to a distinct end. Conferred Padma Shri in 2011.
Affectionately addressed as "Captain", he was an actor and politician who appeared as a lead in Tamil cinema. He acted in over 150 films in his career spanning four decades. He was well known for his performances in Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), Amman Kovil Kizhakale (1986), Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988), Senthoora Poove (1988), Pulan Visaranai (1990), Chinna Gounder (1992), Honest Raj (1994), Thayagam (1996) and Vaanathaippola (2000). Known for his stance on food equality on film sets, demanding that low-wage cast and crew members must be given the same quality meals that he was served and for a few films, he also accepted deferred remuneration to help struggling producers.
^Lal, Shavax A. (1954). "The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part I"(PDF). The Gazette of India. The President's Secretariat (published 2 January 1954): 2. Archived from the original(PDF) on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2018. The President is pleased to institute an award to be designated 'Padma Vibhushan' in three classes, namely: 'Pahela Varg', 'Dusra Varg' and 'Tisra Varg'
^ abcd"Padma Awards Scheme"(PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs (India). Archived(PDF) from the original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
^ abcAyyar, N. M. (1955). "The Gazette of India—Extraordinary—Part I"(PDF). The Gazette of India. The President's Secretariat (published 15 January 1955): 8. Archived from the original(PDF) on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2018. All persons upon whom the decoration of 'Padma Vibhushan' ('Dusra Varg') was conferred under the Regulations issued with Notification No. 2-Pres./54, dated the 2nd January, 1954, shall, for all purposes of these regulations, be deemed to be persons on whom the decoration of Padma Bhushan has been conferred by the President.