Padma Awards 2025: Ajith Kumar, Arijit Singh, Shobana
Padma Awards 2025: Recognizing Excellence Across Diverse Fields
The Padma Awards, one of India’s highest civilian honors, are conferred annually by the Government of India, typically announced on the eve of Republic Day. These prestigious awards acknowledge individuals for exceptional contributions across various fields of activity that involve an element of public service. The Padma Awards are classified into three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. While the Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan is awarded for distinguished service of a higher order, and the Padma Shri is conferred for distinguished service in any field.
Each year, the awardees are chosen based on recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is formed by the Prime Minister of India. The committee evaluates individuals for their notable achievements and contributions to society. These awards are typically presented in a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the official residence of the President of India, usually in March or April.
For the year 2025, the government has announced a total of 139 Padma Awards across all categories, recognizing individuals for their extraordinary achievements in various sectors. Among the recipients are well-known figures from the realms of cinema, sports, social work, literature, and more. This year’s awards include 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
Notable Awardees of Padma Vibhushan 2025
The Padma Vibhushan, the highest of the three awards, is given for exceptional contributions that have had a lasting impact on the nation and society. This year, the late writer MT Vasudevan Nair, known for his remarkable contributions to Malayalam literature, is being posthumously honored with the Padma Vibhushan. His work has inspired countless generations and continues to leave an indelible mark on Indian literature.
Padma Bhushan Recipients
The Padma Bhushan, awarded for distinguished service of a higher order, has been presented to several prominent personalities from the field of cinema. Among the notable recipients are actors Ajith Kumar, Nandamuri Balakrishna, and Anant Nag, who have earned recognition for their exceptional contributions to Indian cinema. Additionally, acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and renowned dancer Shobana Chandrakumar have been honored with this prestigious award for their exceptional work in the arts.
Ajith Kumar, a celebrated actor in Tamil cinema, expressed his gratitude upon receiving the Padma Bhushan. In his statement, he humbly acknowledged the honor and extended his heartfelt thanks to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the film industry community. Ajith also recognized the support he has received from various sectors, including motor racing and sports, which have been integral to his journey. He further expressed deep appreciation for his family, friends, and fans, whose unwavering love and support have fueled his success.
Shekhar Kapur, a prominent filmmaker and producer, took to social media to express his gratitude for the recognition. He shared, “What an honour! I am humbled that the Government of India has considered me to be deserving of a Padma Bhushan. Hopefully, this award will make me strive harder to serve the industry that I am part of and the beautiful nation that I am so fortunate to belong to. Thank you also to the audiences of India, for I am because you are.”
Similarly, Shobana, a distinguished dancer and actress, expressed her heartfelt thanks through an audio note. She praised the committee for honoring her with the Padma Bhushan and acknowledged her parents, team, friends, and fans for their continuous support. She expressed her excitement to meet the public and press in Chennai soon.
Padma Shri Awardees
The Padma Shri, which recognizes distinguished service in any field, has been awarded to numerous individuals from diverse backgrounds. In the realm of cinema, notable figures such as Arijit Singh, Ashok Laxman Saraf, Barry Godfray John, Jaspinder Narula, and Ricky Kej are among the recipients of this prestigious honor. These individuals have made remarkable contributions to their respective fields, ranging from music to acting, enriching India’s cultural landscape.
Arijit Singh, one of India’s most beloved playback singers, was also among the Padma Shri recipients. Known for his soulful voice and chart-topping hits, Arijit’s recognition is a testament to his exceptional talent and enduring impact on the Indian music industry.
The Significance of the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are not just individual accolades; they also serve as a reflection of the nation’s acknowledgment of public service and contributions to society. By honoring individuals from a wide range of fields, including arts, science, literature, social work, and sports, the Padma Awards showcase the diverse ways in which people are serving the nation. These awards highlight the invaluable role that individuals from all walks of life play in shaping India’s progress and success.
The awards also play a vital role in inspiring future generations to contribute to society. They serve as a reminder of the importance of selfless service and dedication, encouraging others to follow in the footsteps of these exemplary individuals.
In conclusion, the Padma Awards are a symbol of excellence, a celebration of India’s rich diversity, and a recognition of the contributions made by individuals who have shaped and continue to shape the nation’s future. Each recipient of the Padma Awards 2025 has made a profound impact in their respective fields, and their achievements stand as a testament to their commitment to serving the people and the nation. As these awards continue to be presented each year, they inspire the nation to strive for excellence, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose in the pursuit of progress and prosperity.
Here’s a full list of Padma Award winners:
Padma Vibhushan
Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar
Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia
Lakshminarayana Subramaniam
MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)
Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)
Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)
Padma Bhushan
A surya Prakash
Anant Nag
Bibek Debroy (Posthumous)
Jatin Goswami
Jose Chacko Periappuram
Kailash Nath Dikshit
Manohar Joshi (Posthumous)
Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
Nandamuri Balakrishna
PR Sreejesh
Pankaj Patel
Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous)
Rambahadur Rai
Sadhvi Ritambhara
S ajith Kumar
Shekhar Kapur
Shobana Chandrakumar
Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous)
Vinod Dham
Padma Shri
Advaita Charan Gadanayak
Achyut Ramchandra Palav
Ajay v Bhatt
Anil Kumar Boro
Arijit Singh
Arundhati Bhattacharya
Arunoday Saha
Arvind Sharma
Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
Ashok Laxman Saraf
Ashutosh Sharma
Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
Baijnath Maharaj
Barry Godfray John
Begam Batool
Bharat Gupt
Bheru Singh Chouhan
Bhim Singh Bhavesh
Bhimawa Doddabalappa Shiilekyathara
Budhendra Kumar Jain
C S Vaidyanathan
Chaitram Deochand Pawar
Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous)
Chandrakant Sompura
Chetan E Chitnis
David R Syiemlieh
Durga Charan Ranbir
Farooq Ahmad Mir
Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid
Gita Upadhyay
Gokul Chandra Das
Guruvayur Dorai
Harchandan Singh Bhatty
Hariman Sharma
Harjinder Singh srinagar Wale
Harvinder Singh
Hassan Raghu
Hemant Kumar
Hriday Narayan Dixit
Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous)
Inivalappil Mani Vijayan
Jagadish Joshila
Jaspinder Narula
Jonas Masetti
Joynacharan Bathari
Jumde Yomgam Gamlin
K. Damodaran
K L Krishna
K Omanakutty Amma
Kishore Kunal (Posthumous)
L Hangthing
Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer
Lalit Kumar Mangotra
Lama Lobzang (Posthumous)
Libia Lobo Sardesai
M D Srinivas
Madugula Nagaphani Sarma
Mahabir Nayak
Mamata Shankar
Manda krishna Madiga
Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli
Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous)
Nagendra Nath Roy
Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous)
Naren Gurung
Neerja Bhatla
Nirmala Devi
Nitin Nohria
Onkar Singh Pahwa
P Datchanamoorthy
Pandi ram Mandavi
Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai
Pawan Goenka
Prashanth Prakash
Pratibha Satpathy
Purisai Kannappa Sambandan
R Ashwin
R G Chandramogan
Radha Bahin Bhatt
Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy
Ramdarash Mishra
Ranendra bhanu Majumdar
Ratan Kumar Parimoo
Reba Kanta Mahanta
Renthlei Lalrawna
Ricky Gyan Kej
Sajjan Bhajanka
Sally Holkar
Sant ram Deswal
Satyapal Singh
Seeni Viswanathan
Sethuraman Panchanathan
Sheikha Shaikha ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)
Shyam Bihari Agrawal
Soniya Nityanand
Stephen Knapp
Subhash Khetulal Sharma
Suresh Harilal Soni
Surinder Kumar Vasal
Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)
Syed Ainu Hasan
Tejendra Narayan Majumdar
Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla
Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi
Vasudeo Kamath
Velu Assaan
Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar
Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
Vilas Dangre
Vinayak Lohani
