Padma Awards

HEADLINES:

Nominations for Padma Awards-2021 open till 15th September, 2020

WHY IN NEWS:

Online nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2021 have started from 1^st May, 2020.

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Home Affairs

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : Awards

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS it is important to understand the categories in this award , list of fields and

For MAINS go through Padma Awards Committee , History and the suggested reading section .

ISSUE:

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India .

It is announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

THE AWARDS ARE GIVEN IN THREE CATEGORIES

Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service),
Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and
Padma Shri (distinguished service).

Padma Awards UPSC IAS

The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
The nomination process is open to the public.
Even self-nomination can be made.

HISTORY AND RELEVANCE

The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954.
The latter had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg.

These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.

PADMA AWARDS INTERRUPTIONS

Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954.
It is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

ELIGIBILITY

All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards.
However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines.

LIST OF THE FIELDS

Art (includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre etc.)
Social work (includes social service, charitable service, contribution in community projects etc.)
Public Affairs (includes Law, Public Life, Politics etc.)
Science & Engineering (includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects etc.)
Trade & Industry (includes Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business etc.)
Medicine (includes medical research, distinction/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidhha, Allopathy, Naturopathy etc.)
Literature & Education (includes Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms etc.)
Civil Service (includes distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants)
Sports (includes popular Sports, Athletics, Adventure, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, Yoga etc.)
Others (fields not covered above and may include propagation of Indian Culture, protection of Human Rights, Wild Life protection/conservation etc.)

THE AWARD

The awards are presented by the President of India every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.

The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire.
The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.
The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.

The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name

WHO DECIDES

All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members.

The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

IASbhai WINDUP:

AFTER THE DEATH OF ORIGINATOR (POSTHUMOUSLY)

The award is normally not conferred posthumously.
However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award.
However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.

SUGGESTED READING : https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Padma Awards | UPSC

DISCOVER MORE : IMPORTANT GS-1 ISSUES

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