Nominations for Padma Awards- 2018

Nominations for the Padma Awards, 2018 is presently open and the last date for receipt of the nominations for the Padma Awards 2018 is September 15, 2017.

The nominations/recommendations for the Padma Awards will be received online only on the Padma portal designed by MHA, which is available on the address www.padmaawards.gov.in

No other mode of nomination/recommendation will be accepted. Nominations received after September 15, 2017 will also not be considered.

For further details click 'Awards and Medals' on the Union Home Ministry's website: www.mha.nic.in

The statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the Union Home Ministry's website with the link http://padmaawards.gov.in/SelectionGuidelines.aspx

****
Padma Awards
The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.
History and Relevance
The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954. The latter had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg. These were subsequently renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.
1. Bharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country. It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour. It is treated on a different footing from Padma Award. The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. No formal recommendations for Bharat Ratna are necessary. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. Government has conferred Bharat Ratna Award on 45 persons till date.
2. Padma Awards
Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.
The award is given in three categories, namely,
Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;
Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and
Padma Shri for distinguished service.
All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. However, Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for these Awards.
The award seeks to recognize works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines. An illustrative list of the fields is as under:
Art (includes Music, Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Cinema, Theatre etc.)
Social work (includes social service, charitable service, contribution in community projects etc.)
Public Affairs (includes Law, Public Life, Politics etc.)
Science & Engineering (includes Space Engineering, Nuclear Science, Information Technology, Research & Development in Science & its allied subjects etc.)
Trade & Industry (includes Banking, Economic Activities, Management, Promotion of Tourism, Business etc.)
Medicine (includes medical research, distinction/specialization in Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Sidhha, Allopathy, Naturopathy etc.)
Literature & Education (includes Journalism, Teaching, Book composing, Literature, Poetry, Promotion of education, Promotion of literacy, Education Reforms etc.)
Civil Service (includes distinction/excellence in administration etc. by Government Servants)
Sports (includes popular Sports, Athletics, Adventure, Mountaineering, promotion of sports, Yoga etc.)
Others (fields not covered above and may include propagation of Indian Culture, protection of Human Rights, Wild Life protection/conservation etc.)
The award is normally not conferred posthumously. However, in highly deserving cases, the Government could consider giving an award posthumously.
A higher category of Padma award can be conferred on a person only where a period of at least five years has elapsed since conferment of the earlier Padma award. However, in highly deserving cases, a relaxation can be made by the Awards Committee.
The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year where the awardees are presented a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
The recipients are also given a small replica of the medallion, which they can wear during any ceremonial/State functions etc., if the awardees so desire. The names of the awardees are published in the Gazette of India on the day of the presentation ceremony.
The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.
The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name
Who decides
All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

********
Selection Criteria

It is the usual practice is to invite recommendations every year from 1st May to 15th September from all State / UT Governments, Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees and Institutes of Excellence. Recommendations received from them and also from other sources like Central/State Ministers, Chief Ministers/Governors of State, Members of Parliament, as also private individuals, bodies etc., are placed before the Padma Awards Committee.
The Padma Awards Committee is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members.
While no rigid criteria or trenchant formula for selection is applied by the Padma Awards Committee, it looks for life time achievement of an individual while making a selection. There ought to be an element of public service in the achievements of the person to be selected. The award is given for ‘special services’ and not merely for long service. It should not be merely excellence in a particular field, but the criteria has to be “excellence plus”.
Persons selected for the awards are subjected to verification by the investigating agencies of the Government with a view to ensuring that their character and antecedents are above board.

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President for approval.

The Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year.

******
Process for Padma Awards
Nominations can be submitted online through the following URL: www.padmaawards.gov.in
Following steps should be followed for nomination:
Nomination by Citizen: Basic common steps: 1. Click on Nomination button on Home screen/ Menu bar 2. Go under By Individual column and select user sub-type (e.g. Governor, Citizen etc.)
Steps for citizens already registered on Padma portal: 1. Click on Already registered? Click here to login. 2. Fill up your login ID, Password and Captcha. Click on Login. 3. Click on New Nomination to initiate nomination process. 4. Fill up 1. Personal Basic Details part of the form. Click on Save & Next. 5. Fill up 2. Citation, Upload photo and Document part of the form. Click on Save As Draft. 6. On completion of nomination, click on Final Submit. After this, you cannot edit the details. You will receive confirmation regarding nomination on registered mobile and email. 7. After final submission, you can share your nomination details on Facebook and Twitter.
Steps for citizens not registered on Padma portal: Click on Proceed button on Registration screen.
For citizens with registered Aadhaar card: 1. Fill up details as per your registered Aadhaar card. Click Proceed. 2. Enter the OTP received on phone number linked with Aadhaar card and click Submit. 3. Fill up the registration form. Click on Register. Remember the login id and password. 4. Log in to the nomination screen by filling your login credentials provided on registration same as Steps for citizens already registered on Padma portal above.
For citizens without registered Aadhaar card: 1. If you don’t have an Aadhaar card, click on Don’t Have An Aadhaar. 2. Fill the form based on the ID proof you available with you. Upload a copy of ID proof. Click on Proceed. 3. Enter the OTP received on phone number submitted with ID proof and click Submit. 4. Fill up the registration form. Click on Register. Remember the login id and password. 5. Log in to the nomination screen by filling your login credentials provided on registration same as Steps for citizens already registered on Padma portal above.
Nomination by Organization: 1. Go to Nomination and choose By Organization. 2. Select the user sub-type and proceed to Login page. 3. If you have not been registered, go to Aadhaar number enabled authentication. 4. After registration, you can proceed to Nomination process. 5. After filling all required details, save the form as draft. 6. After Final Submission you cannot edit details. 7. Confirmation regarding nominations will be conveyed on registered mobile and email. 8. After final submission, you can share your nomination on Facebook and Twitter.
Click on Nomination button on Home screen/ Menu bar
Go under By Individual column and select user subtype (e.g. Governor, Citizen etc.)
Are you already registered?
Click on Already Registered? Click here to login
Click on Proceed button
No
Yes
Have an Aadhaar card?
Fill up details (Aadhaar number, fullname and phone number) as per Aadhaar. Click on Proceed button
Click on Don t Have Aadhaar
Fill the form based on the ID proof available with you. Upload a copy of ID proof (pdf, jpg, png). Click on Proceed
Enter the OTP received on phone number linked to Aadhaar and click Submit
Fill up the registration form. Click on Register
Remember login ID and Password
Enter OTP received on phone number submitted with ID proof and click Submit
No
Yes
Fill your Login ID, Password & Captcha Click on Login
Click on New Nomination to nomination process
Fill up 1. Personal Details part of the form Click on Save & Next
Fill up 2. Citation, Upload photo and Document part of the form Click on Save As Draft
On final completion of nomination, click on Final Submit
After this, you cannot edit/ modify the details
Confirmation will be sent via sms on your registered mobile and email
If you want you can share your nomination details on facebook and twitter
NOMINATION PROCEDURE BY CITIZENS GO TO PADMAAWARDS.GOV.IN

****

Nominations for Padma Awards- 2018