Padma Awards 2025: Sharda Sinha-Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia awarded Padma Vibhushan, honored posthumously

Padma Awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan – Photo: ANI

President Draupadi Murmu has given away awards to the Padma award winners at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Let us tell you that, in the first phase, 71 eminent personalities were honoured. On Tuesday May 27. 2025 , Sharda Sinha (posthumously) and Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia (posthumously) have been honoured with Padma Vibhushan.

President Draupadi Murmu has presented the Padma Awards 2025 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honors of the country, are conferred in three categories – Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. These awards are given in many subjects like arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine and literature etc.

Sharda Sinha (posthumously) – Art-Folk Music
In this, folk singer Sharda Sinha was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Draupadi Murmu for her contribution in the field of art-folk music. Her son received the award on her behalf.

A total of 139 people to receive Padma Awards in 2025

Let us tell you that this year 139 people have been selected for the Padma Awards. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as several Union Ministers and many special guests were also present at the ceremony. The list includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards. 23 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the Foreign / NRI / PIO / OCI category and 13 posthumous award winners.

Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia (posthumous) – Art

Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Draupadi Murmu for her contribution in the field of art. Her grandson received the award on her behalf.

Bibek Debroy (Posthumous) – Literature and Education
Bibek Debroy has been awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously by President Draupadi Murmu for his contribution in the field of literature and education. His wife received the award on his behalf. Bibek Debroy was an economist who served as the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council and is also the author of notable works.

The announcement is made on the eve of Republic Day
The Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day.

Judge (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar – Public Affairs

Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Draupadi Murmu for his contribution in the field of public affairs.

Dr. Shobhana Chandrakumar – Art-Folk Dance

Dr. Shobhana Chandrakumar received the Padma Bhushan award from President Draupadi Murmu for her contribution in the field of Art-Folk Dance.

Sadhvi Ritambhara – Social Work
Sadhvi Ritambhara received the Padma Bhushan award from President Draupadi Murmu for her contribution in the field of social work.

These were honored in Civil Investiture Ceremony-
Earlier, 4 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 57 Padma Shri awards for the year 2025 were presented in the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held in the Republic Pavilion of Rashtrapati Bhavan.