The Padma Awards are one of the most prestigious honours bestowed by the Government of India. These awards, announced each year on the eve of Republic Day, recognise exceptional achievements in. the arts, literature, science, public service, and social work. The Padma Awards symbolise India’s respect for those who have greatly contributed to society.
This article will explore the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards. It will also list the 2025 awardees, including notable figures from various fields.
Overview of the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India. They are based on recommendations from the Padma Awards Committee, formed each year by the Prime Minister of India. These awards honour individuals for their distinguished service in various fields. They emphasise public service and contributions to society.
The awards are categorized into three ranks:
1. Padma Vibhushan (For Exceptional and Distinguished Service)
The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award in India. It is given to those who have made exceptional contributions in their fields. Only those who have had a lasting impact on the nation and its people are considered for this prestigious honor.
2. Padma Bhushan (For Distinguished Service of Higher Order)
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India. This award recognises individuals with outstanding public service or professional excellence. It is considered a step below the Padma Vibhushan but still represents an outstanding achievement.
3. Padma Shri (For Distinguished Service)
The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award. It is for those with distinguished service in various fields. This award recognizes a wide range of achievements. It is often given to those who have made significant contributions to society at a local or national level.
History and Significance of the Padma Awards
The Government of India introduced the Padma Awards in 1954. They aim to recognise individuals’ contributions to the nation’s progress and welfare. The awards are conferred on the eve of Republic Day, which is celebrated on January 26 every year. It is a time when the nation celebrates its democratic values. It also honours those who have greatly contributed to its growth.
The Padma Awards are a part of India’s rich tradition of recognizing excellence in various fields. The awards not only recognise individual achievements. They also inspire others to follow in the footsteps of these distinguished people. The selection process for the Padma Awards is rigorous, ensuring that only the most deserving individuals are honored.
2025 Padma Award Winners: A Complete List
This year, the Government of India has announced the following recipients for the Padma Awards. A total of 7 individuals have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, 19 have received the Padma Bhushan, and 113 have been conferred the Padma Shri.
Padma Vibhushan
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Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
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Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar
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Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia
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Lakshminarayana Subramaniam
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MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)
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Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)
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Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)
Padma Bhushan
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A Surya Prakash
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Anant Nag
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Bibek Debroy (Posthumous)
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Jatin Goswami
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Jose Chacko Periappuram
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Kailash Nath Dikshit
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Manohar Joshi (Posthumous)
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Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
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Nandamuri Balakrishna
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PR Sreejesh
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Pankaj Patel
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Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous)
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Rambahadur Rai
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Sadhvi Ritambhara
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S Ajith Kumar
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Shekhar Kapur
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Shobana Chandrakumar
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Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous)
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Vinod Dham
Padma Shri
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Advaita Charan Gadanayak
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Achyut Ramchandra Palav
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Ajay V Bhatt
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Anil Kumar Boro
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Arijit Singh
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Arundhati Bhattacharya
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Arunoday Saha
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Arvind Sharma
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Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
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Ashok Laxman Saraf
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Ashutosh Sharma
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Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
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Baijnath Maharaj
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Barry Godfray John
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Begam Batool
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Bharat Gupt
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Bheru Singh Chouhan
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Bhim Singh Bhavesh
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Bhimawa Doddabalappa Shiilekyathara
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Budhendra Kumar Jain
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C S Vaidyanathan
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Chaitram Deochand Pawar
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Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous)
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Chandrakant Sompura
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Chetan E Chitnis
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David R Syiemlieh
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Durga Charan Ranbir
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Farooq Ahmad Mir
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Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid
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Gita Upadhyay
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Gokul Chandra Das
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Guruvayur Dorai
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Harchandan Singh Bhatty
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Hariman Sharma
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Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale
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Harvinder Singh
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Hassan Raghu
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Hemant Kumar
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Hriday Narayan Dixit
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Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous)
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Inivalappil Mani Vijayan
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Jagadish Joshila
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Jaspinder Narula
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Jonas Masetti
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Joynacharan Bathari
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Jumde Yomgam Gamlin
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K. Damodaran
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K L Krishna
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K Omanakutty Amma
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Kishore Kunal (Posthumous)
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L Hangthing
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Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer
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Lalit Kumar Mangotra
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Lama Lobzang (Posthumous)
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Libia Lobo Sardesai
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M D Srinivas
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Madugula Nagaphani Sarma
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Mahabir Nayak
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Mamata Shankar
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Manda Krishna Madiga
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Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli
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Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous)
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Nagendra Nath Roy
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Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous)
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Naren Gurung
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Neerja Bhatla
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Nirmala Devi
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Nitin Nohria
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Onkar Singh Pahwa
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P Datchanamoorthy
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Pandi Ram Mandavi
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Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai
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Pawan Goenka
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Prashanth Prakash
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Pratibha Satpathy
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Purisai Kannappa Sambandan
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R Ashwin
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R G Chandramogan
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Radha Bahin Bhatt
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Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy
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Ramdarash Mishra
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Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar
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Ratan Kumar Parimoo
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Reba Kanta Mahanta
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Renthlei Lalrawna
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Ricky Gyan Kej
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Sajjan Bhajanka
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Sally Holkar
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Sant Ram Deswal
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Satyapal Singh
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Seeni Viswanathan
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Sethuraman Panchanathan
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Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
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Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)
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Shyam Bihari Agrawal
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Soniya Nityanand
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Stephen Knapp
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Subhash Khetulal Sharma
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Suresh Harilal Soni
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Surinder Kumar Vasal
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Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)
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Syed Ainu Hasan
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Tejendra Narayan Majumdar
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Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
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Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla
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Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi
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Vasudeo Kamath
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Velu Assaan
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Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar
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Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
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Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
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Vilas Dangre
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Vinayak Lohani
Importance of the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are very important. They recognise people and inspire others to help society. These awards spotlight diverse fields, from science to the arts. They honour those who have worked tirelessly to create change.
The recognition of posthumous awardees adds depth to the Padma Awards. It ensures that we honor the contributions of those who have died. These awards also celebrate those who have worked in the shadows. Their services often go unnoticed by the public.
Conclusion
The Padma Awards show the hard work of the people of India. They aim to create change in arts, sciences, sports, and social services. The 2025 awardees, as outlined in this article, represent the rich diversity of talent and passion that India is proud to have. These awards are a reminder that exceptional work, no matter the field, deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
As India grows, its future rests with the Padma Awardees. They will ensure a legacy of excellence for future generations.