New Delhi: This year’s Padma awards were announced on Monday in connection with the Republic Day celebrations. Singers K S Chithra, SP Balasubramaniam, lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri and former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi are among the award winners.

This year, a total of 119 Padma Awards including 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awards were announced. 29 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 16 Posthumous awardees and 1 transgender awardee. The awards will be conferred by the President at a function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan later this year.

Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, Singer S P Balasubramaniam (posthumously), Sand artist Sudarshan Sahoo, Archaeologist BB Lal were awarded Padma Vibhushan.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, former Principal Secretary to PM Nripendra Misra, former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan (posthumous), former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi (posthumous) and religious leader Kalbe Sadiq (posthumous) are among 10 recipients of Padma Bhushan award.

Former Governor of Goa Mridula Sinha, British film director Peter Brook, Father Vallés (posthumous), Professor Chaman Lal Sapru (posthumous) are among 102 recipients of Padma Shri award.

Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

  SPB CHITHRA