President Droupadi Murmu on Monday presented the Padma Awards to 71 individuals during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, honouring their contributions in fields such as the arts, public affairs, science, and sports.
The awards included four Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri recognitions. This was the first phase of the 2025 Padma Awards presentation.
Renowned violinist L. Subramaniam received the Padma Vibhushan for his contributions to art. Former Suzuki Motor Corporation CEO Osamu Suzuki was posthumously honoured with the same award for contributions to trade and industry. His son, Toshihiro Suzuki, the current CEO, accepted the award.
Among Padma Bhushan recipients were filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, actor and Andhra Pradesh legislator Nandamuri Balakrishna, actor S. Ajith Kumar, and the late singer Pankaj Udhas. Udhas’s wife, Farida Udhas, received the award on his behalf. Former Indian hockey goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh was also honoured in this category.
Padma Shri awards were presented to singer Jaspinder Narula and cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin for their contributions to music and sports, respectively.
Vedic scholar Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid was recognised for his role in determining ceremonial timings for major Hindu religious events, including the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor ceremony.
American author Stephen Knapp received the Padma Shri for his work promoting Vedic literature and spiritual teachings.
The Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours and are given annually to individuals for distinguished service in various disciplines.
