New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred the prestigious Padma Awards to recipients across diverse disciplines during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Ministers including Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, Pralhad Joshi, Jitendra Singh, G. Kishan Reddy, and other dignitaries.
Among the awardees, the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honor, was presented to Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar, former Chief Justice of India, for his significant contributions to Public Affairs.
The legendary folk singer Sharda Sinha was posthumously honored with the Padma Vibhushan for her contributions to arts, particularly folk and devotional music, including Chhath songs. Her son, Anshuman Sinha, received the award on her behalf.
Dr. Shobana Chandrakumar was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her contributions to folk dance. The Padma Vibhushan was also conferred posthumously to Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia for her work in the arts, with her grandson accepting the honor.
Sadhvi Ritambhara received the Padma Bhushan for her social work, while economist Bibek Debroy, former Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Literature and Education; his wife received the award on his behalf.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honors, are classified into three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of high order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service in any field). These awards cover various fields including arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
The 2025 list includes 139 awardees: 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients. The list features 23 women, 10 persons from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI categories, and 13 posthumous awardees.
The awards are announced annually on Republic Day and are conferred by the President in formal ceremonies at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (ANI)
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