Bharat Ratna Award Winners List: Civilian Awards in India

One of the most inspiring quotes by the Bharat Ratna awardee APJ Abdul Kalam was, “all of us do not have equal talent. But, we all have an equal opportunity to develop our talents.” And very few are quick enough to grab such opportunities and make exceptional contributions in the field of arts, education, literature, sports, medicine, etc. So, to appreciate them for their exceptional services and performances, they are honored with civilian awards, the highest honor in India. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award, followed by Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, The Padma Awards are announced yearly on Republic Day. This article will discuss the history of the civilian awards and who received these 2022 Padma awards. 

History of the civilian awards

The Government of India instituted two civilian awards: Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan, in 1954. The latter (Padma Vibhushan) had three classes: Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg, and Tisra Varg. These Varg were subsequently renamed Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8th, 1955.

• Bharat Ratna: highest civilian honor

• Padma Vibhushan: second highest civilian honor

• Padma Bhushan: third highest civilian honor

• Padma Shri: fourth highest civilian honor

Bharat Ratna

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in the country. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor. It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for this highest civilian award are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. No formal recommendations for Bharat Ratna are necessary. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to three per year. The government has conferred Bharat Ratna Award on 45 persons to date, with 12 receiving posthumous accolades.

Padma Awards

Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruptions during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

The award is bestowed in three categories, namely,

• Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;

• Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and

• Padma Shri for distinguished service.

Who is entitled to get Padma Awards?

No discrimination is done based on race, occupation, position, or sex for these awards. However, Government servants, including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these awards.

The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all activities/disciplines. The list of fields under this award is:

• Art (includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre, etc.)

• Social work (includes social service, charitable service, contribution to community projects, etc.)

• Public Affairs (includes Law, Public Life, Politics, etc.)

• Science & Engineering (includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects, etc.)

• Trade & Industry (includes Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business, etc.)

• Medicine (includes medical research, distinction/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidhha, Allopathy, Naturopathy, etc.)

• Literature & Education (includes Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms, etc.)

• Civil Service (includes distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants)

• Sports (includes popular Sports, Athletics, Adventure, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, Yoga, etc.)

• Others (fields not covered above may include propagation of Indian Culture, protection of Human Rights, Wild Life protection/conservation, etc.)

The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government can consider giving an award posthumously. A higher category of the Padma award from the last one can be conferred on a person only where at least five years have elapsed since the earlier Padma award. But, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.

• The Padma awards are generally presented by the President of India in March/April every year. The awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.

• The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. 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.

Bharat Ratna Award Winners

Who was awarded Bharat Ratna 2022?

For 2022, nobody was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor.

On the other hand, a total of 128 people won the Padma Awards. 

Who was awarded Padma Vibhushan (2022)?

Following people were awarded Padma Vibhushan for their exceptional and distinguished service:

1. Ms. Prabha Atre

2. Radheyshyam Khemka (posthumous)

3. Kalyan Singh, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (posthumous)

4. General Bipin Rawat, India’s first chief of defense staff (posthumous)

Who was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2022?

Who was awarded Padma Shri 2022?

Who decides the Padma Awards?

All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons. The committee's recommendations are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.