President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards on 71 distinguished individuals during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony of 2025 held at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Durbar Hall on Monday.
The honours included four Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri awards, recognising outstanding contributions across arts, medicine, sports, public affairs, and social work.
Notable recipients included actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, musician Ricky Kej, and late ghazal maestro Pankaj Udhas (posthumous). Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event, which was streamed live nationwide.
A Celebration of Excellence and Diversity
The prestigious ceremony was marked by emotional moments and cultural pride. Farida Udhas accepted the Padma Bhushan on behalf of her late husband, ghazal legend Pankaj Udhas. Actor Ajith Kumar expressed his humility at receiving the honour, while filmmaker Shekhar Kapur pledged renewed dedication to Indian cinema.
Nandamuri Balakrishna, dressed in traditional Andhra attire, reflected the rich regional heritage celebrated at the event. The presence of foreign awardees such as Japan’s Osamu Suzuki (posthumous Padma Vibhushan) and Indian-American engineer Vinod Dham (Padma Bhushan) underscored the global reach of India’s honours.
Padma Vibhushan Recipients (4):
- Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous) – Former Chief of Suzuki Motor Corporation (Japan)
- Lakshminarayana Subramaniam – Violinist, Indian classical music
- Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy – Gastroenterologist
- M. T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous) – Malayalam author and filmmaker
Padma Bhushan Recipients (10):
- Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous) – Ghazal singer
- Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) – Public service
- Shekhar Kapur – Actor and filmmaker
- Ajith Kumar – Tamil actor
- Nandamuri Balakrishna – Telugu actor and politician
- P. R. Sreejesh – Hockey player
- Pankaj Patel – Pharmaceutical industry
- Vinod Dham – Engineer, ‘Father of Pentium chip’
- S. Ajith Kumar – Artist
- Shobana Chandrakumar – Classical dancer and actress
Selected Padma Shri Recipients (57):
- Arundhati Bhattacharya – Former SBI Chairperson
- Ravichandran Ashwin – Cricketer
- Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane – Oncologist
- Bhai Harjinder Singh – Spiritual singer
- Dr. Satyapal Singh – Para athletics coach
- Jaspinder Narula – Singer
- Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid – Vedic scholar
- Hriday Narayan Dikshit – Former UP Assembly Speaker
- Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah – Yoga educator (Kuwait)
- Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shilleky – Puppeteer
- Stephen Knapp – Vedic culture author (USA)
- Harvinder Singh – Para archer, Paralympic gold medallist
- Pawan Kumar Goenka – Industrialist
This list highlights the broad spectrum of fields and regions recognised, from grassroots contributors to internationally acclaimed figures.
Background and Context
The Padma Awards, announced annually on Republic Day, honour exceptional service in various fields including arts, literature, science, sports, public affairs, and social work. The 2025 list initially included 139 recipients (7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri), with Monday’s ceremony conferring 71 awards.
The remaining honours are expected to be presented in subsequent ceremonies. This year’s awards featured 23 women and 13 posthumous recipients, along with 10 foreign nationals and NRIs, reflecting the government’s commitment to inclusivity and global recognition.
The ceremony also emphasised the growing representation from Southern film industries and unsung heroes alike, continuing the tradition of balancing celebrity and grassroots achievements.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Padma Awards serve as a powerful reminder of India’s rich tapestry of talent and service, spanning every corner of society. Honouring both celebrated icons and lesser-known contributors fosters a culture of respect, empathy, and unity.
However, the phased conferment and differences between announced and presented awards highlight the need for clearer communication to maintain transparency.
As we applaud these remarkable individuals, we invite our readers to reflect: How can we, as a society, nurture and celebrate diverse forms of excellence while ensuring openness in recognition processes? Share your thoughts and experiences with us.
