Vijay Amritraj Honored with Padma Bhushan; Rohit, Harmanpreet Get Padma
Vijay Amritraj receives Padma Bhushan; Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur get Padma Shri.
Key Facts
Vijay Amritraj: Padma Bhushan
Rohit Sharma: Padma Shri
Harmanpreet Kaur: Padma Shri
Praveen Kumar: Padma Shri
Savita Punia: Padma Shri
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude - Public service values and ethics in Public administration.
Potential question types: Statement-based, analytical, and critical evaluation of the award selection process.
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Background
The Padma Awards, established in 1954, were initially conceived as 'Desh Bandhu', 'Padma Vibhushan', and 'Padma Bhushan'. These were renamed in January 1955 as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards seek to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister. The awards are presented by the President of India usually in the month of March/April every year. The awards were briefly suspended between 1977-1980 and 1993-1997.
Latest Developments
In recent years, there has been a greater emphasis on recognizing unsung heroes and grassroots contributors across various fields for the Padma Awards. The government has been actively seeking nominations from the public to ensure that deserving individuals who may not have high visibility are also considered. There has also been a push to increase representation from diverse fields, including sports, arts, social work, science, and engineering.
The selection process has become more transparent, with detailed criteria and guidelines being made available to the public. The focus is on recognizing exceptional contributions that have made a significant impact on society.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who are the key personalities recently awarded the Padma Shri in sports, as per the news?
According to the news, Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Praveen Kumar, and Savita Punia have been awarded the Padma Shri.
2. What is the significance of the Padma Bhushan award received by Vijay Amritraj?
The Padma Bhushan is India's third-highest civilian award, recognizing Vijay Amritraj's significant contributions to Indian tennis.
3. What are the Padma Awards and when were they established?
The Padma Awards are a set of civilian awards in India that recognize achievements in various fields where public service is involved. They were established in 1954.
4. How have the Padma Awards evolved since their inception?
Initially named 'Desh Bandhu', 'Padma Vibhushan', and 'Padma Bhushan', the awards were renamed in January 1955 as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Recent developments emphasize recognizing unsung heroes and grassroots contributors.
5. Why is the recognition of sports personalities with Padma Awards important?
Recognizing sports personalities with Padma Awards acknowledges their contributions to the nation's sporting achievements and inspires future generations. It also highlights the importance of sports in national development.
6. What recent changes have been made in the selection process for Padma Awards?
Recent developments include a greater emphasis on recognizing unsung heroes and grassroots contributors. The government has been actively seeking nominations from the public to ensure deserving individuals are considered.
7. What are the key facts to remember about the recent Padma Awards related to sports for the UPSC Prelims exam?
Key facts include: Vijay Amritraj receiving the Padma Bhushan, and Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Praveen Kumar, and Savita Punia receiving the Padma Shri. Remember the sports they are associated with.
Exam Tip
Focus on matching the sportsperson to the award and their respective sport.
8. Why is Vijay Amritraj's Padma Bhushan award significant in the context of Indian tennis?
Vijay Amritraj's Padma Bhushan recognizes his long-standing contributions to popularizing and elevating Indian tennis on the global stage. It acknowledges his achievements as a player and his impact on the sport in India.
9. What upcoming sports events are associated with Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur, according to the provided information?
Rohit Sharma led India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and is associated with the 2025 Champions Trophy. Harmanpreet Kaur captained the 2025 ODI Women's World Cup-winning team.
10. What is the process for selecting recipients of the Padma Awards?
The awards are conferred on the recommendations made by committees constituted for the purpose. The government has been actively seeking nominations from the public to ensure that deserving individuals are considered.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Padma Awards: 1. The Padma Vibhushan is India's highest civilian award, followed by the Bharat Ratna. 2. The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by a committee constituted by the President of India. 3. The awards were instituted in 1954 and have been given out every year since then without interruption. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
Statement 1 is INCORRECT: The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian award, followed by the Padma Vibhushan. Statement 2 is INCORRECT: The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by a committee constituted by the Prime Minister, not the President. Statement 3 is INCORRECT: The awards were briefly suspended between 1977-1980 and 1993-1997.
2. In the context of sports awards in India, consider the following pairs: List I (Award) List II (Field) 1. Padma Bhushan A. Tennis 2. Padma Shri B. Cricket 3. Arjuna Award C. Hockey Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All the pairs are correctly matched. Vijay Amritraj (Padma Bhushan) is associated with Tennis, Rohit Sharma (Padma Shri) is associated with Cricket, and Arjuna Award is given for outstanding achievement in sports like Hockey.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the Padma Awards? A) The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. B) The awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day. C) Government servants, including those working with Public Sector Undertakings, are eligible for the awards. D) The awards seek to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
- A.The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
- B.The awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day.
- C.Government servants, including those working with Public Sector Undertakings, are eligible for the awards.
- D.The awards seek to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
Show Answer
Answer: C
Government servants, including those working with Public Sector Undertakings, are NOT eligible for the awards, except doctors and scientists.