The Padma Awards 2025 were announced on the eve of Republic Day, Saturday, recognizing exceptional achievements and service across various fields such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, and Trade and Industry.
Tamil actor Ajith Kumar, Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, cinema veteran Anant Nag, Bharatnatyam dancer-actor Shobana, and legendary Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous), along with veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, have been conferred with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award.
The Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, awardees include singer Arijit Singh, veteran actor Ashok Laxman Saraf, theatre stalwart Barry John, singer Jaspinder Narula, and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej.
Folk singer Sharda Sinha and noted Malayalam screenwriter-director M T Vasudevan Nair have been posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award for exceptional and distinguished service.
The Padma Awards, instituted in 1954, are among India’s highest civilian accolades and continue to celebrate the achievements of remarkable individuals who have made significant contributions to society. These awards inspire future generations to follow in the footsteps of those honored.
The Padma Shri award is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, following the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan. This year’s Padma Shri awardees include several notable names from diverse fields who have made remarkable impacts in their respective areas.
The awards are divided into three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. 23 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 13 posthumous awardees.
