The central government on Saturday announced the names of the awardees for the Padma Awards 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the recipients, praising their remarkable achievements.
This year, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 139 Padma Awards, which include seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. The list also features one duo case (where the award is counted as one), 23 women awardees, and 10 individuals from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category. Additionally, 13 awardees have been honored posthumously.
“Congratulations to all the Padma awardees. India is proud to honor and celebrate their extraordinary achievements. Their dedication and perseverance are truly motivating. Each awardee embodies hard work, passion, and innovation, positively impacting countless lives. They teach us the value of striving for excellence and serving society selflessly,” PM Modi said on X.
Notable names on the list include Osamu Suzuki, former chief of Suzuki Motors, former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi, BJP leader and former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi, ex-Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar, Malayalam literature icon MT Vasudevan Nair, and renowned singer Sharda Sinha. Other awardees include playback singers Pankaj Udhas and Arijit Singh, cricketer R Ashwin, and former Indian hockey player PR Sreejesh.
Among the prominent recipients are Ram temple architect Chandrakant Sompura, Brazilian Hindu spiritual leader Jonas Masetti, Paralympian Harvinder Singh, and Kuwaiti yoga practitioner Shaikha A J Al Sabah. The Padma Awards, one of India’s highest civilian honors, are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
Other Padma Shri awardees include Gangtok folk artist Naren Gurung, Hindi and Nimadi author Jagdish Joshila, apple farmer Hariman Sharma from Bilaspur, humanitarian homeopath Vilas Dangre, and Noklak’s fruit man L Hangthing. Travel bloggers Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, known for their extensive contributions to travel journalism, will also receive the Padma Shri for their work.
Dr. Neerja Bhatla, a Delhi-based gynecologist specializing in cervical cancer detection and management, has been honored with the Padma Shri as well.
A 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa, Libia Lobo Sardesai, Dhak player Gokul Chandra Dey from West Bengal, and India’s first female puppeteers are also among the Padma Shri awardees. Dey, a 57-year-old Dhak player, has trained 150 women in this traditionally male-dominated field, breaking gender stereotypes. Libia Lobo Sardesai was instrumental in Goa’s freedom movement and co-founded an underground radio station, ‘Voz da Liberdade (Voice of Freedom),’ in 1955 to oppose Portuguese rule.
The Padma Awards recognize individuals for their exceptional contributions across various fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science, engineering, business, industry, medicine, literature, education, sports, and civil service.
(With agency inputs)
