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	205
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 The name of recipient, whose award have been revoked or restored, both of which require the authority of the President, is archived and they are required to surrender their medal when their name is struck from the register;^[4] none of the conferments of Padma Bhushan during 1970–1979 have been revoked or restored.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-inch (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 of theIndian civilian and military awards.^[a]

As the result of the6th general election held in March 1977,Morarji Desai was sworn in as thePrime Minister of India on 24 March 1977 replacing theIndira Gandhi led government of theIndian National Congress. On 31 July, the newly formed government retracted all the civilian awards including the Padma Bhushan deeming them "worthless and politicized".^[6] After the7th general election of 1980 Gandhi was again sworn in as the Prime Minister and all civilian awards were reinstated on 25 January 1980. Consequently, this award was not presented in 1978 and 1979.^[7]

A total of 205 awards were presented in the 1970s – twenty-eight in 1970, followed by forty-one in 1971, fifty in 1972, seventeen in 1973, twenty-one in 1974, fifteen in 1975, sixteen in 1976 and seventeen in 1977. The Padma Bhushan in the 1970s was also conferred upon eight foreign recipients – four from the United States, two from Italy, and one each from Belgium and the United Kingdom. Individuals from nine different fields were awarded, which includes forty-eight from literature and education, forty-three from civil services, thirty-four artists, twenty-six from science and engineering, twenty-one from social work, seventeen from medicine, twelve from trade and industry, three from public affairs, and one sportsperson. NovelistKhushwant Singh, who accepted the award in 1974 in the field of literature and education, returned it in 1984 as a notion of protest against theOperation Blue Star.^[8]

Non-citizen recipients

Posthumous recipients

• Official website
• "Awards and medals". Ministry of Home Affairs (India). 5 February 2016. Archived fromthe original on 9 February 2018. Retrieved10 April 2016.

• Lists of Padma Bhushan award recipients

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