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Cabinet hikes number of Padma awards to 100

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday decided to increase the number of Padma awards given by the Centre for excellence in various fields from 60 to 100.

The decision was taken on the basis of a recommendation of the awards committee, and the number of persons to be henceforth decorated, subject to suitability, would be Padma Vibhushan (20), Padma Bhushan (30) and Padma Shri (50), Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told reporters in New Delhi.

The increase will, however, exclude posthumous awards and awards given to foreigners and non-resident Indians, he said.

Padma awards, instituted in 1954, were briefly interrupted in 1978-79. Thereafter they were announced every year till 1992.

The presentation of the awards was frozen in 1993 following a public interest litigation challenging their constitutional validity. Therefore, no announcement of awards was made between 1993-1996.

Since their inception, a total of 172 Padma Vibhushan, 765 Padma Bhushan and 1,571 Padma Shri awards have been given, taking the total to 2,508, Mahajan said.

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