New Delhi, India: President Draupadi Murmu presented prestigious Padma Awards to recipients from various fields at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The ceremony, the first of its kind this year, saw the President confer 3 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 55 Padma Shri awards.

Among the awardees were former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Dr. Padma Subramaniam, who were both honored with the Padma Vibhushan. Social worker Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously, with his wife Amola accepting the award from the President.

The Padma Bhushan category included prominent figures like film actor Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup, former Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, industrialist Dr. Sitaram Jindal, cardiologist Prof. Tejas Madhusudan Patel, folk artist Dattatreya Ambadas Mayalu, and Dr. Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur.

President Murmu also conferred Padma Shri awards on several deserving individuals, including tennis player Rohan Bopanna and Ojapali folk dancer Drona Bhuiyan from Assam. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other dignitaries.

Padma Awards: Recognizing Excellence

As mentioned, the Padma Awards are one of India's highest civilian honors. These awards, categorized as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, recognize exceptional and distinguished service in various fields like art, social work, public affairs, science, and more. Announced annually on Republic Day, the awards are a testament to the achievements and contributions of individuals who have enriched the nation.