President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma awards to numerous individuals at a civil investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, including former chief minister of Karnataka and BJP politician S M Krishna, renowned industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and playback vocalist Suman Kalyanpur.
Apart from Krishna, the Padma Vibhushan was also conferred on noted architect Balkrishna Doshi, known for using minimalistic, simple and eco-friendly approach to architecture, posthumously. Doshi’s granddaughter received the award on his behalf. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, who was also on the list of Padma Vibhushan awardees, however, was not present.
Of the 106 Padma Awards issued by President Murmu on Republic Day, more than 50 recipients of the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri were honoured.
The remaining awardees will be conferred the honour in another ceremony to be held later. The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. Six distinguished persons this year were conferred with the Padma Vibhushan while nine were conferred with Padma Bhushan. Another 91 persons were conferred with Padma Shri.
Padma Bhushan awardees included Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, awarded posthumously, and Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, who is among the first Indian groups to venture abroad, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.