Opinion | The People’s Padma: How PM Modi Redefined India’s Highest Civilian Awards

The Modi government’s list of 139 Padma awardees, announced on 25 January 2025, once again reinforces that the Padma awards now honour talent, meritocracy, hard work, diversity, perseverance, social work, unique skills, and the achievements of ordinary men and women, not just well-known celebrities. Of these 139 recipients, 113 are Padma Shri awardees, 19 Padma Bhushan awardees, and seven Padma Vibhushan recipients.

While the Congress party and its scion Rahul Gandhi do not miss an opportunity to demean and deride India’s corporates, industry chieftains, and wealth creators, the Modi government celebrates them. This year, the late Osamu Suzuki, former chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, who ushered in the small car revolution in India with affordable and fuel-efficient vehicles, was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

Other corporate stalwarts who feature in this year’s Padma list include former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya; Pawan Goenka, former MD of the Mahindra Group; RG Chandramogan, former MD of Hatsun Agro; Prashanth Prakash, founder of Accel Partners; Onkar Singh Pahwa, MD of Avon Cycles; Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, chairperson of Nalli Silk Sarees; Sajjan Bhajanka, chairperson of Century Plyboard; and Pankaj Patel, chairperson of Zydus.

Prashanth Prakash, notably, has been a pioneer in India’s startup ecosystem, a steadfast believer in the power of founders, and a champion of big, bold ideas that transform industries. His leadership has shaped some of the country’s most iconic startups. This recognition is a testament to his unwavering commitment to building a better future—whether by empowering founders or creating meaningful change in communities.

Clearly, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Padma awards celebrate diversity—from a fruit farmer in the Northeast to the hustle and bustle of corporate India, there is room for everyone, as long as excellence and social service for the greater good remain the defining features.

Another name that stands out is Jagdish Singh Khehar, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, who has been conferred the Padma Vibhushan. Justice Khehar is renowned for his landmark verdict declaring the right to privacy as a fundamental right.

The multifaceted Dr Madugula Nagaphani Sarma has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri. As a renowned Sanskrit and Telugu poet, scholar, and singer, Dr Sarma has made unparalleled contributions to popularising the ancient art of Avadhanam.

How can one discuss the people’s Padma awards without mentioning the Gandhian of the hills, Radha Bhatt from Uttarakhand? She has been awarded the Padma Shri for her immense contributions to education and women’s empowerment, especially in the challenging hilly terrain, over the past several decades.

The Padma awards under the Modi government do not discriminate based on caste, creed, religion, or gender—a fact best exemplified by Manda Krishna Madiga being conferred the Padma Shri for his invaluable service towards the upliftment of the marginalised Madiga-Dalits. While education and social service have been the calling cards for some of the notable awardees, sports has been the defining factor for many others.

Harvinder Singh, a trailblazing para-archer who won a bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, has been conferred the Padma Shri for becoming the first Indian para-archer to win a Paralympic gold medal in 2024 at the Paris Paralympics. Singh, last year, defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in a commanding 6-0 victory during the final, etching his name in the record books.

Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy has also created a record of sorts as the first medical doctor to be bestowed with all three Padma awards—Padma Shri in 2002, Padma Bhushan in 2016, and Padma Vibhushan in 2025. His unparalleled contributions to public health, particularly in gastroenterology, have earned him this rare distinction. The Padma awards reward consistency, and no one exemplifies that better than Dr Reddy.

Prof Syed Ainul Hasan, a distinguished Persian scholar from Varanasi and vice-chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, has been awarded the Padma Shri. Hasan has taught at institutions like JNU and has contributed to strengthening Indo-Afghan relations. Dr Hasan’s award is a stinging rebuttal to those who have repeatedly and falsely accused PM Modi of being unfair to Muslims.

While awards should not be viewed through a religious prism, the truth must be acknowledged. In the last two years, eminent Muslims such as the late tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, chikankari craftswoman Naseem Bano, and Bidri artisan Rashid Ahmed Quadri have been recipients of the Padma awards.

An interesting aspect of the Padma awards under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership is the recognition given to traditional arts and crafts—something that was overlooked for the longest time under successive Congress regimes. This year, Velu Aasaan, a prominent Parai artist from Madurai, was honoured with the Padma Shri, while last year, Madhubani artist Dulari Devi received the same honour.

The Padma Awards, instituted in 1954, are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day, except for brief interruptions during 1978 and 1979, and from 1993 to 1997. All persons, regardless of race, occupation, position, or gender, are eligible for these awards. However, government servants, including those working with PSUs, are not eligible, except for doctors and scientists.

The awards seek to recognise works of distinction and are conferred for exceptional achievements or service across various fields and disciplines. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a higher order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service). These awards aim to honour outstanding achievements that embody an element of public service.

The Padma awards are granted based on recommendations put forth by the Padma Awards Committee, formed annually by none other than the Prime Minister himself. This committee, led by the Cabinet Secretary, includes key officials such as the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President, and four to six distinguished individuals. The nomination process is open to the public, and even self-nominations can be made. Following the committee’s recommendations, final approvals are sought from the Prime Minister and the President of India.

The late octogenarian Tulsi Gowda, who worked with the Karnataka Forest Department’s nursery in Honnalli village in the state’s Uttar Kannada district, planted over 30,000 saplings. This barefoot ecologist continued her work even after retiring from the department. Tulsi played a key role in regenerating many tree species that were on the verge of extinction. She is called the “encyclopaedia of forests" because of her deep knowledge of trees, and her community fondly refers to her as ‘Vruksha Devata’ (the goddess of trees). It finally took a leader of Prime Minister Modi’s stature to honour her tireless efforts with the Padma Shri in 2021.

This year, one of the most deserving Padma honours has arguably been the Padma Bhushan for the feisty Sadhvi Rithambara, who was at the forefront of the Ram Janmabhoomi Andolan. The dedication with which she has been overseeing Vatsalya Gram in Vrindavan—an initiative that shelters and cares for abandoned women and children, including infants—is both inspirational and humbling. ‘Didi Ma’, as she is affectionately called, embodies the essence of Sanatana Dharma.

From tribal reformers and environmentalists working quietly to uplift poor tribal communities or preserve the forests around them, to rural women in India breaking the glass ceiling, to medical practitioners who overcame personal tragedy to heal other victims, to Bhadu folk singer Ratan Kahar from Birbhum—who found fame in his eighties after his compositions went viral on social media and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024—and to Anant Nag, who has acted in over 300 films and was awarded the Padma Bhushan this year, these awards celebrate ordinary individuals whose work speaks louder than their humble voices.

This is what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has achieved in terms of democratising India’s highest civilian honours—something only a leader with a vision as towering as his could have accomplished.

Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of ‘The Modi Gambit’. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.