Padma Awards | UPSC
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 1st May, 2020.
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:
PADMA AWARDS
- The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India .
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).
- 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.
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 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.
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 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.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Padma Awards | UPSC
DISCOVER MORE : IMPORTANT GS-1 ISSUES
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