Sun Jan 26 13:10:35 UTC 2025: ## India Announces 2025 Padma Awards
**New Delhi, [Date of Publication]** – The Indian government announced the prestigious Padma Awards for 2025 on the eve of Republic Day. A total of 139 eminent personalities will receive the awards, recognizing their exceptional contributions in various fields.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honors, are bestowed in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (second highest), Padma Bhushan (third highest), and Padma Shri (fourth highest). This year, seven individuals will receive the Padma Vibhushan, nineteen the Padma Bhushan, and 113 the Padma Shri.
The Padma Vibhushan, awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, will be posthumously conferred upon legendary singer Shardha Sinha and renowned Malayalam screenwriter-director M.T. Vasudevan Nair, among others. The Padma Bhushan, recognizing high-order distinguished service, will be posthumously awarded to acclaimed ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas. Other recipients in this category include Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna.
The Padma Shri, given for distinguished service, will be presented to a diverse group including veteran actor Ashok Saraf, theatre personality Barry John, singer Jaswinder Narula, and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej.
The list of awardees includes 23 women, 10 foreign nationals/NRIs/PIOs/OCIs, and 13 posthumous recipients. The awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. A full list of recipients is available [link to list if applicable].
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