President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Bhushan Awards to 71 distinguished personalities at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan's Durbar Hall on Monday, April 28, 2025. The awardees included four Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 57 Padma Shri recipients, celebrating outstanding contributions across diverse sectors such as art, literature, science, public service, and sports. This ceremony marked the first phase of Padma Awards distribution for the year 2025.

Among the prominent awardees were Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, Malayalam literary giant MT Vasudevan Nair (awarded posthumously), actor and Andhra Pradesh legislator Nandamuri Balakrishna, philanthropist Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, and celebrated playback singer Arijit Singh. Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) leader Manda Krishna Madiga was also honored.

The awards list for 2025 includes 139 individuals, including posthumous recognitions, reflecting the government’s commitment to acknowledging extraordinary talent and service. Visionary automotive leader and founder of Suzuki Motors, Osamu Suzuki, received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his contributions to global trade and industry. His son and current CEO of Suzuki Motors, Toshihiro Suzuki, accepted the award on his behalf.

Renowned violinist L Subramaniam was among the Padma Vibhushan awardees for his unparalleled contributions to the world of music and arts. In the field of cinema and art, acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, actors S Ajith Kumar and Nandamuri Balakrishna, along with the late singer Pankaj Udhas, were honored with the Padma Bhushan. Farida Udhas, wife of Pankaj Udhas, received the award on his behalf.

In the domain of sports, former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, recognizing his significant role in bringing laurels to the country. Several notable personalities received the Padma Shri as well. Playback singer Jaspinder Narula was recognized for her contributions to Indian music, while ace Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin was honored for excellence in sports. Prominent Vedic scholar Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid was awarded the Padma Shri for his profound work in determining auspicious timings for major temple inaugurations like the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi. American author and researcher Stephen Knapp, known for his extensive writings on Vedic culture and spirituality, was awarded the Padma Shri in the category of literature and education.

The Padma Bhushan Awards are among India’s highest civilian honors, bestowed in three categories Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in a variety of fields including art, public affairs, science and engineering, medicine, social work, literature, and education. Padma Vibhushan recognizes exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan is awarded for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri is conferred for distinguished service in any field. Announced annually on the eve of Republic Day, the awards aim to honor individuals whose work has left a significant impact on society. As per the official statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, a total of 139 Padma Awards were announced this year, comprising seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Among these, 13 were awarded posthumously.

The 2025 ceremony saw a vibrant mix of veteran stalwarts and emerging talents across various domains, reflecting India's rich cultural and intellectual diversity. From celebrated artists to sports legends, from literary icons to social activists, the recipients of the Padma Awards 2025 showcase the spirit of service and excellence that continues to inspire the nation. More award presentations and celebrations are expected to continue in the next phase, bringing additional honor to deserving personalities across India.