Legendary Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who helped the Indian men’s hockey team win two Olympic bronze medals at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, will be feted with the Padma Bhushan award, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Saturday.
Meanwhile, recently-retired India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be awarded the Padma Shri as will legendary footballer IM Vijayan, Paralympic medal-winning para-archer Harvinder Singh and Satyapal Singh.
Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan award is given for distinguished service of high order, and Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
For 2025, President Droupadi Murmu has approved conferment of 139 Padma Awards, which include seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
What are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards of the country and are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities: art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March / April every year.
