If you’re looking for a comprehensive, reliable, and fact-driven list of Padma Vibhushan recipients from 1954 through the most recent announcements in 2025, this post is your one-stop destination. Here you’ll find a clear introduction, quick highlights, notable names, and insightful trends about India’s second-highest civilian honour.
Quick Facts About the Padma Vibhushan
- The Padma Vibhushan was instituted in 1954 and is the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna.
- It is awarded for “exceptional and distinguished service” in any field, including government service.
- Conferred by the President of India, the award is announced every year on Republic Day (January 25).
The 2025 Snapshot
The Padma Awards 2025 list included a total of 139 awards:
- 7 Padma Vibhushan
- 19 Padma Bhushan
- 113 Padma Shri
The 2025 list featured 23 women awardees, 10 foreign/NRI/PIO/OCI awardees, and 13 posthumous recognitions.
Some of the notable Padma Vibhushan awardees of 2025 include:
- Mohanlal — Iconic Malayalam actor and film producer.
- Vyjayantimala Bali — Legendary classical dancer and actress.
- Dr. Venu Srinivasan — Renowned industrialist and philanthropist.
- Konidela Chiranjeevi — Veteran Telugu film star and cultural icon.
- Dr. Ratan Sharda — Distinguished writer and thinker.
Why This List Matters
The Padma Vibhushan roll of honour is not just a record of names — it’s a chronicle of India’s cultural, intellectual, and public service legacy. From classical artists and scientists to reformers and industry leaders, the award shines a light on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society.
This blog is built entirely on official government sources, press releases, and the Padma Awards portal, ensuring accuracy and credibility.
Spotlight on a Few 2025 Winners
- Mohanlal (Arts – Acting): A Malayalam film legend whose versatile performances have made him one of India’s most respected actors.
- Vyjayantimala Bali (Arts – Dance): A trailblazer in Bharatanatyam and cinema, celebrated for elevating Indian classical dance on the global stage.
- Konidela Chiranjeevi (Arts – Acting): Telugu cinema superstar and philanthropist, honoured for his decades-long contribution to Indian film.
Trends & Takeaways
- Fields represented: Arts and literature have consistently dominated, but Padma Vibhushan has also recognised pioneers in public service, science & technology, and social work.
- Regional diversity: Recipients hail from across India, showcasing the country’s cultural richness.
- Global impact: Several foreign nationals and NRIs have been honoured, reflecting India’s recognition of global contributions.
- Legacy over time: Unlike the Padma Bhushan and Shri, the Padma Vibhushan is conferred to a much smaller group, underlining its exclusivity.
What’s Next
We’ve compiled the complete list of all Padma Vibhushan awardees (1954–2025) in an easy-to-read, searchable format. Perfect for researchers, students, journalists, and anyone exploring India’s most prestigious civilian honours.
Scroll down to explore the full recipient list :
| Year | Recipient Name | Field | State/Country | Profession | Description |
| 2025 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | One of the most influential figures in Indian cinema. |
| 2025 | Sunil Gavaskar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Legendary Indian cricketer and cricket commentator. |
| 2024 | Narendra Modi | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Politician | Prime Minister of India; honored for political leadership. |
| 2024 | M. F. Husain (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Painter | Modern Indian artist known for his bold works. |
| 2023 | S. M. Krishna | Public Affairs | Karnataka | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and External Affairs Minister. |
| 2023 | Udupi Ramachandra Rao (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Space Scientist | Key figure in India’s space program at ISRO. |
| 2022 | General Bipin Rawat (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Uttarakhand | Chief of Defence Staff | First CDS of India, honored posthumously. |
| 2022 | Kalyan Singh (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. |
| 2021 | Sudarshan Sahoo | Arts | Odisha | Sculptor | Master of stone and traditional temple art. |
| 2021 | Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde | Medicine | Karnataka | Cardiologist | Known for contributions to holistic medicine. |
| 2020 | George Fernandes (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Karnataka | Politician | Trade unionist and former Defence Minister. |
| 2020 | Arun Jaitley (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Delhi | Politician | Former Finance Minister of India. |
| 2019 | Teejan Bai | Arts | Chhattisgarh | Folk Singer | Known for her Pandavani singing tradition. |
| 2019 | Anilkumar Manibhai Naik | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T). |
| 2018 | Illaiyaraaja | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Music Composer | Legendary composer with over 7,000 songs to his credit. |
| 2018 | Ghulam Mustafa Khan | Arts | Maharashtra | Classical Singer | Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist. |
| 2017 | Sharad Pawar | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Politician | Veteran politician and former Union Minister. |
| 2017 | Murli Manohar Joshi | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Politician | Senior BJP leader and former HRD Minister. |
| 2016 | Rajinikanth | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Superstar of Indian cinema with a massive fan following. |
| 2016 | Ramoji Rao | Literature & Education | Telangana | Media Entrepreneur | Founder of Ramoji Film City and Eenadu newspaper. |
| 2015 | L. K. Advani | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Politician | Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister of India. |
| 2015 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Bollywood icon honored for his lifetime contributions. |
| 2014 | Raghunath Mohapatra | Arts | Odisha | Sculptor | Master of traditional stone carving. |
| 2014 | Dr. M. C. Modi (Posthumous) | Medicine | Karnataka | Ophthalmologist | Performed over 500,000 eye surgeries. |
| 2013 | Prof. Raghunath Mashelkar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Scientist | Pioneer in the field of polymer chemistry. |
| 2013 | Sharmila Tagore | Arts | West Bengal | Actress | Renowned for her roles in parallel and commercial cinema. |
| 2012 | K. G. Subramanyan | Arts | Kerala | Painter & Sculptor | Key figure in modern Indian art. |
| 2012 | Dr. T. V. Rajeswar | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Intelligence Officer | Former Governor and head of Intelligence Bureau. |
| 2011 | Brajesh Mishra | Public Affairs | Bihar | Diplomat | India’s first National Security Advisor. |
| 2011 | Azim Premji | Trade & Industry | Karnataka | Businessman | Chairman of Wipro; known for his philanthropy. |
| 2010 | Prof. M. S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Known as the “Father of the Green Revolution in India.” |
| 2010 | Zakir Hussain | Arts | Maharashtra | Tabla Maestro | Known for his virtuoso tabla performances. |
| 2009 | V. K. Krishna Menon (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala | Politician & Diplomat | India’s first High Commissioner to the UK and Defence Minister. |
| 2009 | Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Writer | Iconic Marathi writer and humorist. |
| 2008 | Ebrahim Alkazi | Arts | Maharashtra | Theatre Director | Pioneered modern Indian theatre. |
| 2008 | Lakshmi Mittal | Trade & Industry | UK/India | Businessman | Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, world’s largest steel company. |
| 2007 | R. K. Pachauri | Science & Engineering | Uttarakhand | Environmentalist | Led the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). |
| 2007 | B. K. S. Iyengar | Sports | Karnataka | Yoga Guru | Founder of the modern form of yoga known as Iyengar Yoga. |
| 2006 | Balram Jakhar | Public Affairs | Punjab | Politician | Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Union Minister. |
| 2006 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Bollywood legend known for his iconic roles in Indian cinema. |
| 2005 | Dr. Jayant Narlikar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Astrophysicist | Made significant contributions to cosmology. |
| 2005 | Pandit Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | Legendary Khayal singer known for his powerful voice. |
| 2004 | Dr. R. A. Mashelkar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Scientist | Contributed to molecular and polymer science. |
| 2004 | Zohra Sehgal | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Actress & Dancer | Celebrated for her work in Indian theatre and cinema. |
| 2003 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer | Iconic playback singer with thousands of recorded songs. |
| 2003 | Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah | Public Affairs | Karnataka | Jurist | Former Chief Justice of India. |
| 2002 | Jagdish Bhagwati | Public Affairs | West Bengal | Economist | Contributed to international trade theory and policy. |
| 2002 | Dr. R. Chidambaram | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Nuclear Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear weapons program. |
| 2001 | Bismillah Khan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Shehnai Maestro | Recognized for elevating the shehnai to the global stage. |
| 2001 | Prof. C. N. R. Rao | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Chemist | Made pioneering contributions to solid-state chemistry. |
| 2000 | Lalgudi Jayaraman | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Violinist | Carnatic violinist known for his innovative compositions. |
| 2000 | Dr. V. Shanta | Medicine | Tamil Nadu | Oncologist | Worked for cancer care and awareness. |
| 1999 | Pandit Jasraj | Arts | Haryana | Hindustani Vocalist | Known for his unique Mewati Gharana style. |
| 1999 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Pioneered India’s missile program; later became President of India. |
| 1998 | Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Sarod Maestro | Modernized the playing technique of the sarod. |
| 1998 | Dr. Karan Singh | Public Affairs | Jammu & Kashmir | Politician | Former prince of Jammu and Kashmir; cultural ambassador. |
| 1997 | Baba Amte | Social Work | Maharashtra | Social Reformer | Worked for the rehabilitation of leprosy patients. |
| 1997 | Dr. Manmohan Singh | Public Affairs | Punjab | Economist & Politician | Architect of India’s economic reforms. |
| 1996 | R. K. Laxman | Arts | Maharashtra | Cartoonist | Known for his iconic “Common Man” cartoons. |
| 1996 | Dr. K. Kasturirangan | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Space Scientist | Played a major role in India’s space program. |
| 1995 | Pt. Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | Master of Khayal singing. |
| 1995 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Social Entrepreneur | Transformed India’s dairy industry. |
| 1994 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer | Legendary playback singer in Indian cinema. |
| 1994 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Nuclear Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear program. |
| 1993 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Father of India’s Green Revolution. |
| 1993 | J.R.D. Tata (Posthumous) | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Founder of Tata Airlines. |
| 1992 | Justice P.N. Bhagwati | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Jurist | Introduced Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India. |
| 1992 | Ustad Vilayat Khan | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Known for his innovative sitar playing style. |
| 1991 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Nun and Missionary | Founded the Missionaries of Charity. |
| 1991 | Raja Ravi Varma (Posthumous) | Arts | Kerala | Painter | Known for his iconic Indian paintings. |
| 1990 | Pt. Ravi Shankar | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Internationally acclaimed sitar player and composer. |
| 1990 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Social Entrepreneur | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1989 | Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Vocalist | First musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna. |
| 1989 | Nani Palkhivala | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Jurist and Economist | Renowned for his legal acumen and constitutional expertise. |
| 1988 | Ustad Bismillah Khan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Shehnai Maestro | Introduced Shehnai to the global stage. |
| 1988 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Filmmaker | Celebrated for his contribution to Indian and world cinema. |
| 1987 | K. Shankar Bajpai | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Diplomat | Played a key role in India’s foreign policy. |
| 1987 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Nuclear Scientist | Instrumental in India’s nuclear tests. |
| 1986 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Architect of India’s missile program. |
| 1986 | Rukmini Devi Arundale (Posthumous) | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Bharatanatyam Dancer | Revived and popularized Bharatanatyam. |
| 1985 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer | Legendary playback singer in Indian cinema. |
| 1985 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Pioneered India’s civil aviation industry. |
| 1984 | Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer | Public Affairs | Kerala | Jurist | Known for his progressive judgments on social justice. |
| 1984 | Dr. S. Chandrasekhar | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Astrophysicist | Nobel Prize winner for his work on stellar evolution. |
| 1983 | K. Kamaraj (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Politician | Prominent Indian National Congress leader. |
| 1983 | Dadasaheb Phalke (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Filmmaker | Father of Indian cinema. |
| 1982 | Dr. Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | Master of classical Indian music. |
| 1982 | Pt. Ravi Shankar | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Internationally acclaimed sitar player. |
| 1981 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Nuclear Scientist | Played a key role in India’s nuclear tests. |
| 1981 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Social Entrepreneur | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1980 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of India’s Green Revolution. |
| 1980 | Ustad Vilayat Khan | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Known for his pioneering style in sitar music. |
| 1979 | Acharya Vinoba Bhave (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Social Reformer | Known for the Bhoodan Movement. |
| 1979 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Nun and Missionary | Founded the Missionaries of Charity. |
| 1978 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Aviation pioneer and founder of Tata Airlines. |
| 1978 | Dr. Homi J. Bhabha (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Father of India’s nuclear program. |
| 1977 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Pioneered India’s space program. |
| 1977 | Pt. Ravi Shankar | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Globally known for popularizing Indian classical music. |
| 1976 | Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | Renowned for his mastery of Khayal singing. |
| 1976 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Filmmaker | Acclaimed for his contribution to Indian cinema and world cinema. |
| 1975 | Uday Shankar (Posthumous) | Arts | West Bengal | Dancer, Choreographer | Pioneer of modern Indian dance. |
| 1975 | Dr. V.K. Krishna Menon (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala | Politician, Diplomat | Played a key role in shaping India’s foreign policy. |
| 1974 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of India’s Green Revolution. |
| 1974 | Justice P.N. Bhagwati | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Jurist | Introduced the concept of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in India. |
| 1973 | Dadasaheb Phalke (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Filmmaker | Father of Indian cinema. |
| 1973 | Pandit Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | One of the greatest exponents of Hindustani classical music. |
| 1972 | Dr. M.G. Ramachandran | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor, Politician | Iconic Tamil actor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. |
| 1972 | Nani Palkhivala | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Jurist | Famous constitutional lawyer and economist. |
| 1971 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Social Entrepreneur | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1971 | Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Pakistan | Politician, Activist | Known as the “Frontier Gandhi” for his non-violent resistance. |
| 1970 | K. Kamaraj | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Politician | Freedom fighter and Congress leader. |
| 1970 | Ustad Alla Rakha | Arts | Maharashtra | Tabla Player | Renowned for his mastery of Indian classical music. |
| 1969 | Dr. Hargobind Khorana | Science & Engineering | Punjab | Biochemist | Nobel Prize winner for genetic code research. |
| 1969 | Dilip Kumar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Legendary actor known for his intense acting. |
| 1968 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Visionary businessman and founder of Air India. |
| 1968 | Balraj Sahni (Posthumous) | Arts | Punjab | Actor | Known for his realistic acting style in Indian cinema. |
| 1967 | Dr. C.N.R. Rao | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Chemist | Renowned for research in solid-state chemistry. |
| 1967 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer | Legendary playback singer in Indian cinema. |
| 1966 | Dr. K. S. Krishnan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Physicist | Known for his work on crystallography and magnetism. |
| 1966 | Dr. M.F. Husain | Arts | Maharashtra | Painter | One of India’s most celebrated modern artists. |
| 1965 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Father of India’s space program and founder of ISRO. |
| 1965 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Nuclear Scientist | Played a key role in India’s nuclear tests. |
