In a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 27, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Awards 2025 to 139 distinguished individuals for their service across a wide range of fields, including arts, medicine, public affairs, science, sports, social work, and education.
This year’s honorees include 13 posthumous recipients, 23 women, and 10 international awardees (including NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs), making the list one of the most inclusive in recent years.
What are the Padma Awards 2025?
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honors in India. Instituted in 1954, they recognize individuals for their extraordinary service in various fields such as art, literature, education, sports, medicine, public affairs, and more. Every year, these awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day and conferred by the President of India at a ceremonial event held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In 2025, a total of 139 awardees were honored for their exceptional contributions. This includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients.
Categories of the Padma Awards
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Padma Vibhushan
This is the second-highest civilian award in India, presented for exceptional and distinguished service. -
Padma Bhushan
Awarded for distinguished service of a high order in any field. -
Padma Shri
This is the fourth-highest civilian award, given for distinguished service in any sphere of activity.
All awards recognize achievements that reflect innovation, dedication, and impact at a national or grassroots level.
🏅 Padma Vibhushan (7 Awardees)
India’s second-highest civilian honour was awarded to:
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Justice J.S. Khehar – Former Chief Justice of India (Public Affairs)
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Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy – Gastroenterologist (Medicine, Telangana)
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Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia (Posthumous) – Kathak dancer (Art, Gujarat)
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L. Subramaniam – Violin maestro (Art, Karnataka)
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M.T. Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous) – Literary icon (Literature, Kerala)
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Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) – Legendary folk singer known as “Bihar Kokila” (Art)
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Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous) – Business leader and long-time friend of India (Trade, Japan)
🥇 Padma Bhushan (19 Awardees)
Recognized for distinguished service of a high order, recipients include:
| S.No | Awardee Name | Field | State/Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Surya Prakash | Literature and Education – Journalism | Karnataka |
| 2 | Anant Nag | Art | Karnataka |
| 3 | Bibek Debroy (Posthumous) | Literature and Education | NCT Delhi |
| 4 | Jatin Goswami | Art | Assam |
| 5 | Jose Chacko Periappuram | Medicine | Kerala |
| 6 | Kailash Nath Dikshit | Others – Archaeology | NCT Delhi |
| 7 | Manohar Joshi (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Maharashtra |
| 8 | Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti | Trade and Industry | Tamil Nadu |
| 9 | Nandamuri Balakrishna | Art (Telugu Film Actor) | Andhra Pradesh |
| 10 | P R Sreejesh | Sports (Hockey) | Kerala |
| 11 | Pankaj Patel | Trade and Industry | Gujarat |
| 12 | Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous) | Art (Ghazal Singer) | Maharashtra |
| 13 | Rambahadur Rai | Literature and Education – Journalism | Uttar Pradesh |
| 14 | Sadhvi Ritambhara | Social Work | Uttar Pradesh |
| 15 | S Ajith Kumar | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 16 | Shekhar Kapur | Art (Film Director) | Maharashtra |
| 17 | Shobana Chandrakumar | Art | Tamil Nadu |
| 18 | Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Bihar |
| 19 | Vinod Dham | Science and Engineering | USA |
Padma Shri (113 Awardees)
Awarded for exceptional service across various grassroots sectors. Some notable names:
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R. Ashwin – Indian cricketer (Sports, Tamil Nadu)
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Arijit Singh – Playback singer (Art, West Bengal)
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Ricky Kej – Grammy-winning music composer (Art, Karnataka)
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Ashok Saraf – Comedy actor and Marathi cinema legend (Art, Maharashtra)
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I.M. Vijayan – Football icon (Sports, Kerala)
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Mamata Shankar – Dancer-choreographer and film personality (Art, West Bengal)
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Neerja Bhatla – Medical expert (Medicine, Delhi)
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Ajay V. Bhatt – Pioneer of USB technology (Science & Engineering, USA)
From folk artists and spiritual leaders to scientists and sportspersons, this year’s awardees reflect the rich diversity and dedication of individuals working at the grassroots and global levels alike.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also present at the ceremony, applauding the honorees’ inspiring contributions.
Why the Padma Awards 2025 Matter
The Padma Awards not only celebrate excellence but also amplify the voices and work of India’s unsung heroes, those making a difference away from the spotlight. From grassroots social workers and tribal artists to scientists, spiritual leaders, doctors, and athletes, the 2025 awardees represent the spirit of service and transformation across India and beyond.
This year’s honorees include former Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, music maestro Lakshminarayana Subramaniam, ghazal icon Pankaj Udhas (posthumously), Olympic hockey star P.R. Sreejesh, and singer Arijit Singh, among others.
(Source- PIB)
