PADMA AWARDS 2019

About: 

• Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian Awards of the country conferred in three categories, namely – 
  • Padma Vibhushan: For Exceptional and distinguished service. 
    
    
  • Padma Bhushan: For Distinguished service of high order. 
    
    
  • Padma Shri: For distinguished service in any field. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Disciplines in which awarded: It is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines. 
  
  
• Eligibility: 
  • All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. 
    
    
  • However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Award committee: 
  • The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made. 
    
    
  • All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary, which is constituted by the PM every year. 
    
    
  • The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the PM and the President for approval. 
    
    
  • The awardees are then presented a certificate and a medallion. The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Clarification: 
  • 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. 
    
    
  • The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously. 
    
    
  • A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only after a gap of five years. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.