Padma awards for the year 2020

Key updates-

• For the year 2020, the list comprises seven Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushans and 102 Padma Shri awards. 
• Of the total awardees, 29 were women and one was transgender, while 16 were posthumous awardees.

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. 
• These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.

About Padma awards-

• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. 
• The Awards are given in three categories: 
  1. Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service).
  2. Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and 
  3. Padma Shri (distinguished service). 
• The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• It was instituted in 1954.

• • These awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.
  • 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.

• THough the award is normally not conferred posthumously, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider such a recommendation. 
• 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.
• The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• 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.
• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.
• The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, Which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

• The Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. 
• The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.