S.P. Balasubramaniam, Shinzo Abe awarded Padma Vibhushan

Context

• Late singer and music composer S.P. Balasubramaniam, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Islamic scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan have been conferred India’s second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.

About the Civilian Awards

Bharat Ratna

• The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
• Instituted on: 2 January 1954.
• The award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.
• The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Ministerto the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year.
• The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepalleaf-shaped medallion.
• There is no monetary grant associated with the award.
• Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
• The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were: the last Governor-Generalof the Dominion of India –  Rajagopalachari.
• Though usually conferred on India-born citizens, the Bharat Ratna has been awarded to one naturalised citizen – Mother Teresa, and to two non-Indians: Abdul Ghaffar Khanand Nelson Mandela, born in and citizen of South Africa.
  

Padma Vibhushan

• The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian awardof the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna.
• Instituted on: 2 January 1954.
• The award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex.
• The award criteria include "service in any field including service rendered by Government servants".
• It is a circular-shaped bronze toned medallion1 3⁄4 inches (44 mm) in diameter and 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) thick.
  • A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text "Padma" written in Devanagariscript is placed above and the text "Vibhushan" is placed below the lotus.
  • The Emblem of Indiais placed in the centre of the reverse side with the national motto of India, "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth alone triumphs), in Devanagari Script, inscribed on the lower edge.
• It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens of India.
  

Padma Bhushan

• The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian awardin the Republic of India.
• The medal is ranked fifth in the order of precedence of wearing of medals.
• It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens of India.

Padma Shri

• Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian awardin the Republic of India.
• It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens of India.