| Padma Shri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 "Shri" 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; 71 years ago (1954) |
| First award | 1954 |
| Final award | 2025 |
| Total | 3448 |
| Website | www |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) |  Padma Bhushan |
← Padma Bhushan "Teesra Varg" (Class III) | |
ThePadma Shri (IAST:padma śrī), also spelledPadma Shree, is the fourth-highestcivilian award of theRepublic of India, after theBharat Ratna, thePadma Vibhushan and thePadma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service and public affairs". It is awarded by theGovernment of India every year onIndia's Republic Day.[1]
Padma Awards were instituted in 1954 to be awarded to citizens of India in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including thearts,education,industry,literature,science,acting,medicine,social service andpublic affairs. It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens of India but did contribute in various ways to India.
The selection criteria have been criticised in some quarters with the claim that many highly deserving artists have been left out in order to favour certain individuals.[2][3] India has now created an online nomination platform for the common citizens to recommend the nomination for the annually given civilian "Padma" awards.[4]
On its obverse, the words "Padma", meaning lotus inSanskrit, and "Shri", a Sanskrit-derived honorific equivalent to 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' (i.e., "Noble One in Blossom"), appear inDevanagari above and below alotus flower. The geometrical pattern on either side is in burnishedbronze. All embossing is inwhite gold.
As of 2025[update], 3448 people have received the award. In 2025, 113 people received the Padma Shri.[5]
Several intended recipients, including musicianHemanta Kumar Mukherjee,sitar playerVilayat Khan,[6] academic and authorMamoni Raisom Goswami,[7] journalist Kanak Sen Deka[8] and notedBollywood screenwriterSalim Khan, have declined the Padma Shri for various reasons.[9] Some intended recipients, such as environmental activistSunderlal Bahuguna[10] andEnglish billiards championMichael Ferreira,[8] have refused the honour but have subsequently accepted a more prestigious one such as thePadma Bhushan orPadma Vibhushan. Other individuals, such as film-makerAribam Syam Sharma,[11] authorPhanishwar Nath 'Renu',[12] Punjabi authorDalip Kaur Tiwana[13] and noted poetJayanta Mahapatra,[14] have returned the honour after initially accepting it.
In 2022, Bengali singer "Gitashri"Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, aged 90, turned down her offer for the Padma Shri award on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day of India. As per media reports, the veteran singer turned down the offer since she believes that her career spanning eight decades deserved a higher award than the Padma Shri. "Padma Shri is more deserving for a junior artiste", her daughter said.[15] Based on her refusal, her name was not included in the Padma awardees list for 2022.
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