Nominate inspiring individuals for Padma awards: Narendra Modi

Nominate inspiring individuals for Padma awards: Narendra Modi

Subject : Governance

Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to nominate their choice of persons, who are doing exceptional work at the grassroots, for Padma awards

Concept :

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

Bharat Ratna

• The Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) is the highest civilian award of India.
• Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.
• The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. No formal recommendations for this are necessary.
• Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion; there is no monetary grant associated with the award.
• Bharat Ratna recipients rank 7th in the Indian order of precedence.