President Kovind confers Padma awards

Why in news?

• President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Padma awards on prominent personalities at a civil investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• Padma Bhusan was presented to Malayalam Actor Mohanlal, South African politician Pravin Gordhan, former Cisco head Jhon Chambers, Parliamentarians Hukumdev Narayan Yadav, Kariya Munda and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and late journalist Kuldip Nayar.
• Padma Shri was conferred on various personalities including Chess player Harika Dronavalli, Table Tennis player Sharat Kamal, Social Workers Bhagirati Devi and Muktaben Dagli, Actor Prabhudeva, Music Director Shankar Mahadevan, former civil servant S Jaishankar, Agriculturist Rajkumari Devi and Babaulal Dahiya, Archaeologist Dilip Chakravarty and Hematologist Mammen Chandy.
• This year, 112 personalities were selected for the Padma awards, which was announced on the eve of Republic Day.

Padma awards

• Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954. Except for brief interruptions during the years 1977 to 1980 and 1993 to 1997, these awards have been announced every year on Republic Day.
• The award is given in three categories, viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, in the decreasing order of importance.
• Padma Vibhushan for “exceptional and distinguished service”. Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award in India.
• Padma Bhushan for “distinguished service of a high order”. Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India .
• Padma Shri is awarded for “distinguished service”. Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
• The Padma awards do not include cash allowances, benefits, or special concessions in rail/air travel.

(National)(Newsonair)

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