Padma Vibhushan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Padma Vibhushan |
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Padma Vibhushan medal suspended by a ribbon
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| Presented by |  President of India |
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| Country |  India |
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The Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian award. It means "Lotus Decoration" in English. This award is given by the Republic of India. Only the Bharat Ratna is a higher award.
The Padma Vibhushan was started on January 2, 1954. It is given for "exceptional and distinguished service." This means people who have done amazing and special things for the country. Anyone can receive this award, no matter their background. This includes their race, job, position, or gender. However, most government workers cannot get it. Doctors and scientists who work for the government can receive it. As of 2024, 336 people have received the award. This includes 31 people who received it after they passed away. It also includes 21 people who are not Indian citizens.
Contents
How People Get the Award
Nominations and Selection Process
Each year, from May 1 to September 15, people can suggest names for the award. These suggestions go to the Padma Awards Committee. The Prime Minister of India creates this committee. Suggestions come from many places. They come from state and union territory governments. They also come from different government ministries. Even past award winners can suggest names. Important people like Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Governors can also recommend people. Members of Parliament and even regular people can send in names.
The committee then reviews all the suggestions. They choose who they think deserves the award. After that, they send their choices to the Prime Minister. Finally, the President of India gives the final approval. The names of the award winners are announced on Republic Day. This is a special day in India.
First Award Winners
The first people to receive the Padma Vibhushan were honored in 1954. They were Satyendra Nath Bose, Nand Lal Bose, Zakir Husain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, and V. K. Krishna Menon. When the award first started, it could not be given to people after they had died. But this rule changed in January 1955.
Awards Refused or Returned
Sometimes, people have refused or returned the award. For example, P. N. Haksar and Vilayat Khan refused it. The families of Lakshmi Chand Jain and Sharad Anantrao Joshi also declined the award for them after they passed away. Baba Amte returned his award in 1991.
Recent Award Winners
On January 26, 2024, five people received the Padma Vibhushan. They are Vyjayanthimala, Chiranjeevi, Venkaiah Naidu, Bindeshwar Pathak (who received it after he passed away), and Padma Subrahmanyam.
History of the Award
Beginning of the Padma Awards
The Padma Vibhushan was first announced on January 2, 1954. This was done by the President of India's office. Two new civilian awards were created that day. The first was the Bharat Ratna, which is the highest award. The second was the Padma Vibhushan. At first, the Padma Vibhushan had three levels. These were "Pahela Varg" (Class I), "Dusra Varg" (Class II), and "Tisra Varg" (Class III). They were all below the Bharat Ratna.
On January 15, 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was changed. It became three separate awards. The highest of these was the Padma Vibhushan. Below it were the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri.
Times the Awards Were Stopped
The Padma awards have been temporarily stopped twice. The first time was in July 1977. This happened when Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister. He thought the awards were not fair. They were started again on January 25, 1980, when Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister again.
The awards were stopped a second time in mid-1992. This happened because some people filed lawsuits in court. They argued that the awards were like "titles." They said this went against a part of the Constitution of India.
On August 25, 1992, a court temporarily stopped all civilian awards. A special group of five judges from the Supreme Court of India looked at the case. On December 15, 1995, the judges decided. They said that the Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are not "titles." They are simply honors. So, the awards were started again.
Rules for the Award
Who Can Get It
The Padma Vibhushan is given for "exceptional and distinguished service." This means doing something truly special and important. It does not matter what a person's background is. This includes their race, job, or gender. The award can be given for service in any field. This includes government workers. But it does not include people who work for government-owned companies. Doctors and scientists are exceptions to this rule.
In 1954, the rules did not allow awards after someone had died. But this changed in 1955. Aditya Nath Jha, Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq, and Vikram Sarabhai were the first to receive the award after their deaths in 1972.
How Awards Are Announced
The names of Padma Vibhushan winners are announced every year. This happens on Republic Day of India. The names are then published in The Gazette of India. This is an official government publication. An award is not official until it is published in the Gazette. If an award is taken away or given back, that is also published. People whose awards are taken away must return their medals.
What the Medal Looks Like
Original Design (1954)
The first Padma Vibhushan medal in 1954 was round. It was made of gold-colored metal. It had a lotus flower in the middle. The words "Padma Vibhushan" were written above the lotus. The Emblem of India was on the back. The words "Desh Seva" (Service to the Nation) were also on the back. The medal hung from a pink ribbon with a white line.
Current Design
The design was changed a year later. The medal now is round and bronze-colored. It has a special shape in the middle. A lotus flower is in the center of the front. The word "Padma" is above the lotus. The word "Vibhushan" is below it.
On the back of the medal, there is the Emblem of India. Below it are the words "Satyameva Jayate". This is India's national motto. It means "Truth alone triumphs." The edges and raised parts of the medal are made of white gold. The words "Padma Vibhushan" are silver-colored. The medal hangs from a pink ribbon.
The Padma Vibhushan medal is ranked fourth in the order of how medals are worn. These medals are made in Alipore Mint in Kolkata. Other important awards like the Bharat Ratna and Param Veer Chakra are also made there.
Award Recipients
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The first people to receive the Padma Vibhushan were Satyendra Nath Bose, Nandalal Bose, Zakir Husain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, V. K. Krishna Menon, and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. They were all honored in 1954. As of 2020, 314 people have received the award. This includes 17 people who received it after they passed away. It also includes 21 people who were not Indian citizens.
Some people have refused or returned their awards. P. N. Haksar, Vilayat Khan, and E. M. S. Namboodiripad refused the award. The families of Lakshmi Chand Jain and Sharad Anantrao Joshi declined the awards for them after they died. Baba Amte returned his award in 1991.
On April 24, 2024, Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, announced the latest Padma Award winners. These awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, honor people for their amazing work in many different areas. This shows how the country recognizes great achievements and service to society.
See also
In Spanish: Premio Padma Vibhushan para niños
