Padma Vibhushan
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| Padma Vibhushan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Padma Vibhushan |
| Awarded by | Republic of India |
| Type | Civilian award |
| Established | 1954 |
| First awarded | 1954 |
| Higher | Bharat Ratna |
| Lower | Padma Bhushan |
Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan is India’s second-highest civilian decoration instituted in 1954 during the presidency of Rajendra Prasad and announced alongside the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan to honour distinguished service across diverse fields, receiving nominations from individuals linked to institutions such as the Prime Minister of India's office, ministries including Ministry of Home Affairs and cultural bodies like Sangeet Natak Akademi, with announcements traditionally timed around Republic Day (India). Recipients have included figures associated with institutions like the Indian Institute of Science, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and international entities including the United Nations, reflecting recognition across domains represented by luminaries such as Satyajit Ray, Lata Mangeshkar, and Amartya Sen.
History
The award was established by the President of India under the authority of the Constitution of India in 1954, following deliberations in cabinets involving leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs, and was modelled alongside civilian honours in other countries like the Order of the British Empire and the Legion of Honour. In 1955 the statutes were revised after consultations with figures from the Supreme Court of India, legal advisors to Rajendra Prasad, and committees including members from the Planning Commission and cultural institutions such as the Archaeological Survey of India. Subsequent amendments under administrations of Indira Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Narendra Modi clarified eligibility, precedence, and conferment ceremonies conducted at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the President of India or on occasion delegated to the Vice President of India.
Eligibility and Criteria
Eligibility is defined in government notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and processed via departments including the Cabinet Secretariat and the Office of the President of India, specifying service of "exceptional and distinguished" nature across fields such as arts represented by Ravi Shankar and M. F. Husain, literature exemplified by R. K. Narayan and Arundhati Roy, science associated with Homi J. Bhabha and C. V. Raman, public affairs linked to K. R. Narayanan and Dhirubhai Ambani, and social work exemplified by Mother Teresa and E. S. Ramasamy. The criteria exclude active military operations typically recognised by decorations such as the Param Vir Chakra and are aligned with precedence rules governed by the President's Secretariat and ceremonial protocols involving the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Design and Insignia
The medal's design was specified by presidential warrant and involves motifs echoing national symbols registered with agencies like the Bureau of Indian Standards and artistic inputs from institutions including the National Museum, New Delhi and National Gallery of Modern Art. The medallion features a lotus motif comparable to artistic works at the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata and bears inscriptions in Devanagari similar to those on documents held by the National Archives of India, produced by mints such as the India Government Mint, Kolkata and India Government Mint, Mumbai, with ribbon specifications maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs and precedence guidance by the Department of Personnel and Training.
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations are invited from individuals holding positions in entities such as state governments like the Government of Maharashtra, union territories such as Delhi, constitutional offices including the Chief Justice of India, and institutional bodies such as the Indian Council of Historical Research and professional academies like the Indian National Science Academy, with private citizens and associations able to recommend candidates to the Padma Awards Committee. The committee, constituted by the Prime Minister of India and chaired by a committee chair drawn from eminent persons or ministers including members of the Union Cabinet and chaired historically by figures with ties to the President of India, evaluates proposals against precedents set by past awardees from lists archived by the Press Information Bureau before forwarding recommendations to the President of India for final approval.
Recipients and Notable Awardees
Recipients span personalities from cultural sectors like Satyajit Ray, Lata Mangeshkar, and M. S. Subbulakshmi; scientific figures such as Homi J. Bhabha, C. V. Raman, and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam; writers like R. K. Narayan, Vikram Seth, and Mulk Raj Anand; public figures including Kailash Satyarthi, Amartya Sen, and Narendra Modi; and international laureates linked to institutions such as the United Nations and universities like Harvard University and University of Cambridge, reflecting geographic diversity across states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala and professions spanning cinema, business, academia, sports represented by names connected to organisations like the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Controversies and Criticism
Debates have arisen over selections involving politicians from parties like the Indian National Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, litigation in the Supreme Court of India challenging removals or annulments, media scrutiny by outlets such as The Hindu and Times of India, and petitions filed by activists from groups associated with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Critics have cited perceived inconsistencies compared to international honours like the Order of Australia and have scrutinised cases where recipients linked to corporate houses such as Tata Group or controversies involving cultural figures sparked responses from institutions like the National Human Rights Commission and parliamentary questions in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.