Padma Bhushan
Type	National Civilian
Country	India
Presented by	Government of India
Ribbon
Obverse	A centrally located lotus flower is embossed and the text "Padma" written in Devanagari script is placed above and the text "Bhushan" is placed below the lotus.
Reverse	A platinumState Emblem of India placed in the centre with the national motto of India, "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari Script
Established	1954
First award	1954
Total	133
Website	http://www.padmaawards.gov.in/
Precedence
Next (higher)	Padma Vibhushan
Next (lower)	Padma Shri
← Padma Vibhushan "Dusra Varg" (Class II)

ThePadma Bhushan is the third-highestcivilian award of theRepublic of India.^[1] Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.^[2] The recipients receive aSanad, a certificate signed by thePresident of India and a circular-shaped medallion with no monetary association. The recipients are announced every year onRepublic Day (26 January) and registered inThe Gazette of India—a publication used for official government notices and released weekly by the Department of Publication, under theMinistry of Urban Development.^[3] The conferral of the award is not considered official without its publication in theGazette. The name of recipient, whose award have been revoked or restored, both of which require the authority of the President, is archived and they are required to surrender their medal when their name is struck from the register;^[4] none of the conferments of Padma Bhushan during 1980–1989 have been revoked or restored. The recommendations are received from all thestate and the union territory governments, as well as fromMinistries of the Government of India, theBharat Ratna and thePadma Vibhushan awardees, the Institutes of Excellence, the Ministers, theChief Ministers and theGovernors of State, and theMembers of Parliament including private individuals.^[3]

When instituted in 1954, the Padma Bhushan was classified as "Dusra Varg" (Class II) under the three-tierPadma Vibhushan awards, which were preceded by the Bharat Ratna in hierarchy. On 15 January 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was reclassified into three different awards as the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and thePadma Shri.^[3] The criteria included "distinguished service of a high order in any field including service rendered by Government servants", but excluded those working with thepublic sector undertakings with the exception of doctors and scientists. The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards; this was subsequently modified in the January 1955 statute.^[4] The design was also changed to the form that is currently in use; it portrays a circular-shaped toned bronze medallion1+3⁄4 inches (44 mm) in diameter and1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) thick. The centrally placed pattern made of outer lines of a square of1+3⁄16 inches (30 mm) side is embossed with a knob carved within each of the outer angles of the pattern. A raised circular space of diameter1+1⁄16 inches (27 mm) is placed at the centre of the decoration. A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text "Padma" is placed above and the text "Bhushan" is placed below the lotus written inDevanagari script. TheState Emblem of India is displayed in the centre of the reverse side, together with the national motto of India, "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari script, which is inscribed on the lower edge. The rim, the edges and all embossing on either side is of standard gold with the text "Padma Bhushan" of gold gilt. The medal is suspended by a pink riband1+1⁄4 inches (32 mm) in width with a broad white stripe in the middle.^[3][4] It is ranked fifth in the order of precedence of wearing of medals and decorations ofthe Indian civilian and military awards.^[a]

After assuming office asPrime Minister of India in 1977,Morarji Desai withdrew all the civilian awards, reckoning them as "worthless and politicized".^[6] As a result, the Padma Bhushan award was not conferred to any person from 1978 until 1980 when the suspension was rescinded on 25 January byIndira Gandhi, Desai's predecessor who had returned to office. CricketerSunil Gavaskar became the first recipient of the award since its restoration in 1980; he was the only person awarded in that year.^[7]

A total of 134 awards were presented in the 1980s. Only one award was conferred in 1980 which was later followed by nine in 1981, fifteen in 1982, seventeen in 1983, eighteen in 1984, twenty-one in 1985, fourteen in 1986, twelve in 1987, thirteen in 1988, and fourteen in 1989. The Padma Bhushan in the 1980s was also conferred upon ten foreign recipients – four from the United Kingdom, three from the United States, and one each from Denmark, France, and Japan. Individuals from nine different fields were awarded, which includes twenty-eight from literature and education, twenty-five from civil services, twenty-three artists, twenty from science and engineering, thirteen from medicine, ten from public affairs, eight from social work, four from trade and industry, and three from sportspersons.^[8]Pushpa Mittra Bhargava, scientist and founder-director ofCentre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) who had received the award in 1986 in the field of medicine, returned it in 2015 in protest of theDadri mob lynching and out of concern at the "prevailing socio-politico situation" in the country.^[9]

Foreign recipients

• Official website
• "Awards and medals". Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 14 September 2015. Archived fromthe original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved22 October 2015.

• Lists of Padma Bhushan award recipients

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