Padma Awards: India’s Prestigious Civilian Honours

Padma Awards in India are generally not given posthumously, and a higher category award is only granted after five years unless the Awards Committee makes an exception.

The award is not a title and cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient’s name. It is limited to a maximum of 120 awards per year (excluding posthumous, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), foreigner, and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) recipients).

Observers question the selection transparency, celebrities and politically connected individuals sometimes feature, sparking debates on merit versus visibility. There are calls for more rigorous checks so that lesser-known achievers (social workers, scientists, grassroots heroes) aren’t overshadowed.

Another issue is award inflation: some argue that too many awards or duplicative recognition (e.g. giving multiple awards to one person over time) dilutes value.

On the flip side, some view Padma Awards as tools of soft power, promoting cultural icons abroad (e.g. honoring foreign nationals who promote Indian art). However, the lack of tangible benefits is a concern for critics: awardees receive only honour, without financial reward or privileges.

Importantly, constitutional provisions check misuse: Article 18 abolishes titles, but exempts national honours. In Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India (1996) the Supreme Court affirmed that Padma and Bharat Ratna awards are not “titles”. Still, awardees cannot append the honour to their names officially.