In a prestigious announcement on the eve of Republic Day, the Central government revealed the recipients of the 2024 Padma awards, honoring individuals who have made outstanding contributions to various fields.
Padma Vibhushan Awardees: Former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, actors Chiranjeevi and Vyjayanthimala Bali, Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam, and posthumously, Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International.
Padma Bhushan Laureates: Late actor Vijayakant, M. Fathima Beevi (first female Supreme Court judge), Satyabrata Mookherjee (former BJP president in West Bengal), Togdan Rinpoche (spiritual leader of Drikung Kagyu Tradition), and Young Liu, chairman of Taiwan’s Foxconn Group.
Diverse Achievements: Actor Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup, BJP leader O. Rajagopal, cardiologist Tejas Madhusudan Patel, veteran BJP leader Ram Naik, industrialist Sita Ram Jindal, film director Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo, music director Pyarelal Sharma, and journalist Kundan Vyas, all honored with the Padma Bhushan.
Padma Shri Standouts: Padma Shri awards for 34 individuals, including tribal environmentalist Dukhu Majhi, organic farmer K. Chellamal, and Sanghthankima from Mizoram, who runs the largest orphanage in Aizawl. Notable sports figures like tennis star Rohan Bopanna, squash player Joshna Chinappa, and para swimmer Satendra Singh Lohia also received recognition.
President’s Approval and Recognition: The President approved a total of 132 Padma awards for 2024, an increase from the previous year. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri awards. Notably, 30 awardees are women, with nine from the category of “Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI,” and nine posthumous awardees.
Heartfelt Congratulations: Union Home Minister Amit Shah applauded the awardees, describing them as “change-makers” who have set pioneering examples for social change. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to transform the Padma Awards ceremony into a platform for recognizing those who have elevated the pride of the nation through their remarkable service.
The 2024 Padma Awards stand as a testament to the nation’s gratitude for the extraordinary achievements and contributions of these outstanding individuals across diverse fields.
Aastha Kumari 
Dhairya Saraswat