Former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak, actor Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup and former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik were among a host of prominent persons conferred with Padma Awards by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremonial function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday.
Naidu, who served as the 13th vice president of India from 2017 to 2022, was also the minister of housing and urban poverty alleviation, urban development and information and broadcasting in the Modi Cabinet.
Sociologist and social entrepreneur, Pathak, who founded Sulabh International, was also the brand ambassador of the Indian Railways' Swachh Rail Mission. He was given the award posthumously.
Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam, who is also a research scholar, choreographer, teacher, Indologist and author, along with Naidu and Pathak, were conferred with the Padma Vibhushan.
Actor Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup, former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik and industrialist Sitaram Jindal were conferred with the Padma Bhushan.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others, were present at the function.
Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honours of the country, are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service, among others.
The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day every year.
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