2020 Padma Awards: Padma Vibhushan for Pejwar Swamiji, George Fernandes, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley
New Delhi: Eminent personalities, including former union ministers Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and George Fernandes, Olympian boxer Mary Kom, former Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth have been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan on the Republic Day this year, officials said on January 25.
Former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, industrialists Anand Mahindra and Venu Shrinivasan, Olympian badminton player P V Sindhu, former Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir and Jammu and Kashmir politician Muzaffar Hussain Baig have been awarded with the Padma Bhushan, they said.
The Padma Vibhushan for this year has been awarded to a total of seven prominent personalities, while 16 have been given the Padma Bhushan, 118 have been given the Padma Shri on the 71st Republic Day this year, they said.
This year the President has approved conferment of 141 Padma Awards including 4 duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushans, 16 Padma Bhushans and 118 Padma Shris. Thirty four of the awardees are women and the list also includes 18 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 12 posthumous awardees.
Former Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, sportsperson M.C. Mary Kom, Hindustani classical singer Chhannulal Mishra and Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt (posthumous) are the other Padma Vibhushan awardees.
Industrialists Anand Mahindra and Venu Srinivasan have been awarded the Padma Bhushan. Producer Ekta Kapoor, director Karan Johar, actor Kangna Ranaut and singer Adnan Sami will receive the Padma Shri.
As far as possible, it is better to give rewards when they are alive.