New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Awards to the recipients on Wednesday at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Former Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla received Padma Bhushan at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Over 50 people were awarded Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri on Wednesday. Famous playback Singer Suman Kalyanpur received Padma Award. Billionaire stock market investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, who passed away last year, was given the honour posthumously along with several unsung heroes.

The president had approved the conferment of 106 Padma awards, including three duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one), on the eve of this year’s Republic Day.

Noted architect Balkrishna Doshi (posthumously) received the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian honour. Delhi-based professor Kapil Kapoor, who is widely known for his books on Indian grammatical theories and models, spiritual leader Kamlesh D Patel and Kalyanpur were conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award. Jhunjhunwala was conferred with the Padma Shri.

India’s top civilian award Bharat Ratna has not been given to anyone since 2019. The awards are given in various disciplines and fields of activities vis-a-vis 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.