If you want one authoritative place to understand who has received India’s Padma Bhushan — from the very first awards in 1954 up to the latest list announced in 2025 — this post does that. Below you’ll find a concise, well-sourced narrative summary, notable highlights, quick facts, and everything you need to explore this prestigious honour.
Quick Facts About the Padma Bhushan
- The Padma Bhushan is India’s third-highest civilian honour, instituted in 1954 and awarded for “distinguished service of a high order.”
- It is conferred across diverse fields such as arts, literature, education, science, medicine, sports, social work, public affairs, and more.
- The award is announced every year on Republic Day (January 25) and presented by the President of India at the ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The 2025 Snapshot
The 2025 Padma list comprised 139 awards in total:
- 7 Padma Vibhushan
- 19 Padma Bhushan
- 113 Padma Shri
Among these, 23 were women awardees, 10 were foreign/NRI/PIO awardees, and 13 were posthumous recognitions.
Notable 2025 Padma Bhushan awardees include:
- Anant Nag — Veteran Kannada actor and theatre stalwart (Arts).
- Shekhar Kapur — Internationally acclaimed film director (Bandit Queen, Elizabeth).
- Shobana — Renowned classical dancer and actress.
- P. R. Sreejesh — Celebrated Indian hockey goalkeeper.
- Bibek Debroy — Scholar and economist (posthumous).
Why This List Matters
The Padma Bhushan roll-call is more than just a directory of names — it’s a living record of India’s cultural, intellectual, and social contributions. From musicians to scientists, athletes to reformers, the award captures the diversity and depth of Indian excellence.
This blog draws from official government notifications, the Padma Awards portal, and PIB press releases, ensuring every name, year, and field is accurate.
Spotlight on a Few Recent Winners
- Anant Nag (2025, Arts): A towering figure in Kannada theatre and cinema, with decades of acclaimed performances.
- Shekhar Kapur (2025, Arts — Film Direction): A creative visionary who put Indian storytelling on the global stage.
- P. R. Sreejesh (2025, Sports): The “Great Wall of Indian Hockey,” recognised for his crucial role in India’s Olympic and international victories.
Trends & Takeaways
- Dominant fields: Arts, literature & education, medicine, and public affairs have historically seen the most Padma Bhushan honourees.
- Geographic spread: Winners come from every corner of India, reflecting regional diversity and talent.
- Women & representation: Female awardees have steadily increased over time, with 2025 seeing 23 women across all Padma categories.
- Global recognition: NRIs and foreign nationals are regularly honoured, underscoring India’s international cultural and intellectual reach.
What’s Next
We maintain the complete list of all Padma Bhushan recipients from 1954 through 2025 — fact-checked, searchable, and available in CSV/PDF formats. Whether you are a journalist, researcher, student, or just curious about India’s civilian honours, this is your go-to resource.
👉 Explore the full master list year by year.
| Year | Recipient Name | Field | State/Country | Profession | Description |
| 2025 | A. Surya Prakash | Literature & Education | Karnataka | Journalist | Former Chairman of Prasar Bharati, known for transforming Indian media. |
| 2025 | Anant Nag | Arts | Karnataka | Actor | Veteran actor with contributions to Kannada cinema and theatre. |
| 2025 | Bibek Debroy* (posthumous) | Literature & Education | Delhi | Economist | Known for his work on Indian economic policy and Sanskrit literature. |
| 2025 | Jatin Goswami | Arts | Assam | Dancer | Renowned Sattriya dancer and promoter of Assamese culture. |
| 2025 | Jose Chacko Periappuram | Medicine | Kerala | Cardiac Surgeon | Expert in heart transplants and cardiovascular surgery. |
| 2025 | Kailash Nath Dikshit | Others | Delhi | Archaeologist | Noted for his contributions to Indian archaeology. |
| 2025 | Manohar Joshi* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Lok Sabha Speaker. |
| 2025 | Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti | Trade & Industry | Tamil Nadu | Industrialist | Textile magnate known for reviving the handloom industry. |
| 2025 | Nandamuri Balakrishna | Arts | Andhra Pradesh | Actor | Actor and politician known for his contribution to Telugu cinema. |
| 2025 | P. R. Sreejesh | Sports | Kerala | Hockey Player | Key player in India’s Olympic hockey success. |
| 2025 | Pankaj Patel | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Industrialist | Chairman of Zydus Cadila, a major pharmaceutical company. |
| 2025 | Pankaj Udhas* (posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Ghazal Singer | Popular for his soulful ghazals. |
| 2025 | Ram Bahadur Rai | Literature & Education | Uttar Pradesh | Journalist | Veteran journalist and writer. |
| 2025 | Sadhvi Rithambara | Social Work | Uttar Pradesh | Social Worker | Known for her role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. |
| 2025 | Ajith Kumar | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Popular Tamil actor and motorsport enthusiast. |
| 2025 | Shekhar Kapur | Arts | Maharashtra | Film Director | Acclaimed filmmaker known for “Elizabeth” and “Bandit Queen.” |
| 2025 | Shobana | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Dancer | Bharatnatyam dancer and film actress. |
| 2025 | Sushil Kumar Modi* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Bihar | Politician | Senior BJP leader and former Deputy CM of Bihar. |
| 2025 | Vinod Dham* (posthumous) | Science & Engineering | United States | Engineer | Known as the “Father of the Pentium chip.” |
| 2024 | Fathima Beevi* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Kerala | Former Judge | First female judge of the Supreme Court of India. |
| 2024 | Hormusji N. Cama | Literature & Education | Maharashtra | Journalist | Noted for his contributions to Indian journalism and media ethics. |
| 2024 | Mithun Chakraborty | Arts | West Bengal | Actor | Iconic actor known for his roles in Hindi and Bengali cinema. |
| 2024 | Sitaram Jindal | Trade & Industry | Karnataka | Industrialist | Founder of Jindal Aluminium Limited, known for philanthropic efforts. |
| 2024 | Young Liu* (posthumous) | Trade & Industry | Taiwan | Business Executive | Chairman of Foxconn, instrumental in global electronics manufacturing. |
| 2024 | Ashwin Balachand Mehta | Medicine | Maharashtra | Cardiologist | Pioneer in heart disease treatment in India. |
| 2024 | Satyabrata Mookherjee* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | West Bengal | Politician | Senior BJP leader and former Minister of State for Law. |
| 2024 | Ram Naik | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Politician | Former Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Union Minister. |
| 2024 | Tejas Patel | Medicine | Gujarat | Cardiologist | Known for advancements in interventional cardiology. |
| 2024 | O. Rajagopal | Public Affairs | Kerala | Politician | Senior BJP leader and former Minister of Railways. |
| 2024 | Rajdutt | Arts | Maharashtra | Film Director | Noted Marathi film director. |
| 2024 | Togdan Rinpoche* (posthumous) | Others | Ladakh | Buddhist Leader | Spiritual leader known for his teachings on Tibetan Buddhism. |
| 2024 | Pyarelal Sharma | Arts | Maharashtra | Music Composer | Half of the legendary music duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. |
| 2024 | C. P. Thakur | Medicine | Bihar | Physician | Specialist in tropical diseases and former Union Minister. |
| 2024 | Usha Uthup | Arts | West Bengal | Singer | Famous for her distinctive voice and contributions to Indian pop music. |
| 2024 | Vijayakant* | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Veteran Tamil actor and politician. |
| 2024 | Kundan Vyas | Literature & Education | Maharashtra | Journalist | Noted for his long-standing contribution to Indian journalism. |
| 2023 | S. L. Bhyrappa | Literature & Education | Karnataka | Novelist | Acclaimed for his Kannada novels exploring Indian culture and traditions. |
| 2023 | Kumar Mangalam Birla | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, known for expanding the company globally. |
| 2023 | Deepak Dhar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Physicist | Renowned for his research in statistical physics and complex systems. |
| 2023 | Vani Jairam | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Playback Singer | Celebrated for her contribution to Indian music in multiple languages. |
| 2023 | Chinna Jeeyar | Others | Telangana | Spiritual Leader | Known for his teachings and promoting Vedic traditions globally. |
| 2023 | Suman Kalyanpur | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | One of the most prominent playback singers in Hindi cinema. |
| 2023 | Kapil Kapoor | Literature & Education | Delhi | Scholar | Distinguished for his research in Sanskrit and Indian languages. |
| 2023 | Sudha Murthy | Social Work | Karnataka | Social Worker | Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, known for her philanthropic work. |
| 2023 | Kamlesh Patel | Others | Telangana | Spiritual Leader | Spiritual teacher, known for his work in meditation and wellness. |
| 2022 | Ghulam Nabi Azad | Public Affairs | Jammu & Kashmir | Politician | Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir. |
| 2022 | Bipin Rawat (Posthumous) | Civil Service | Uttarakhand | Chief of Defence Staff | India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, known for his strategic leadership. |
| 2022 | Satya Nadella | Trade & Industry | United States | CEO of Microsoft | Credited with transforming Microsoft into a cloud-first company. |
| 2022 | Sundar Pichai | Trade & Industry | United States | CEO of Alphabet (Google) | Known for his role in leading Google’s technological advancements. |
| 2022 | Prabha Atre | Arts | Maharashtra | Classical Vocalist | Leading exponent of the Kirana Gharana in Hindustani classical music. |
| 2022 | N. Chandrasekaran | Trade & Industry | Tamil Nadu | Chairman of Tata Sons | Instrumental in steering Tata Group’s business strategy and expansion. |
| 2022 | Krishna Ella | Medicine | Telangana | Entrepreneur | Co-founder of Bharat Biotech, known for developing Covaxin. |
| 2022 | Suchitra Ella | Medicine | Telangana | Entrepreneur | Co-founder of Bharat Biotech, involved in the development of Covaxin. |
| 2022 | Cyrus Poonawalla | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Founder of Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. |
| 2022 | Devi Prasad Shetty | Medicine | Karnataka | Cardiologist | Founder of Narayana Health, known for revolutionizing cardiac care in India. |
| 2022 | Rajiv Mehrishi | Civil Service | Rajasthan | Former Comptroller and Auditor General | Known for financial oversight and governance reforms. |
| 2022 | Sanjaya Rajaram (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Uttar Pradesh | Agricultural Scientist | Known for his work in developing high-yield wheat varieties. |
| 2022 | Gurmeet Bawa (Posthumous) | Arts | Punjab | Folk Singer | Famous for her Punjabi folk songs and “hek” singing style. |
| 2022 | Vashishtha Narayan Singh (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Bihar | Mathematician | Known for his contributions to algebra and complex mathematical theories. |
| 2022 | Radheshyam Khemka (Posthumous) | Literature & Education | Uttar Pradesh | Editor | Longtime editor of ‘Kalyan’ magazine, promoting Hindu philosophy and culture. |
| 2021 | K. S. Chithra | Arts | Kerala | Playback Singer | Celebrated playback singer known for her melodious voice and contributions to Indian cinema. |
| 2021 | Tarun Gogoi* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Assam | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Assam, acknowledged for his service in public affairs and development of the state. |
| 2021 | Chandrashekhara Kambara | Literature & Education | Karnataka | Poet and Playwright | Renowned poet, playwright, and folklorist, recognized for his contributions to Kannada literature. |
| 2021 | Nripendra Misra | Civil Service | Uttar Pradesh | Civil Servant | Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, acknowledged for his distinguished service in civil administration. |
| 2021 | Ram Vilas Paswan* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Bihar | Politician | Veteran politician and Union Minister, recognized for his contributions to public affairs and social justice. |
| 2021 | Keshubhai Patel* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, acknowledged for his service in public affairs and development of the state. |
| 2021 | Kalbe Sadiq* (posthumous) | Others | Uttar Pradesh | Islamic Scholar | Prominent Islamic scholar and reformer, recognized for his efforts in promoting education and social harmony. |
| 2021 | Rajnikant Shroff | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Founder of UPL Limited, acknowledged for his contributions to the agrochemical industry. |
| 2021 | Tarlochan Singh | Public Affairs | Haryana | Politician | Former Member of Parliament and Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, recognized for his service in public affairs. |
| 2020 | Sri M | Others | Kerala | Spiritual Guide | Renowned spiritual guide and social reformer known for promoting interfaith harmony. |
| 2020 | Syed Muazzem Ali* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Bangladesh | Diplomat | Former Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh who played a pivotal role in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations. |
| 2020 | Muzaffar Hussain Baig | Public Affairs | Jammu and Kashmir | Politician | Veteran politician and lawyer, recognized for his contributions to public affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. |
| 2020 | Ajoy Chakrabarty | Arts | West Bengal | Classical Vocalist | Eminent Hindustani classical vocalist known for his versatility and contributions to Indian classical music. |
| 2020 | Manoj Das | Literature & Education | Puducherry | Author | Acclaimed bilingual writer and educationist, celebrated for his literary works in Odia and English. |
| 2020 | Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi | Others | Gujarat | Architect | Pioneering architect and urban planner, recognized for his contributions to modern Indian architecture. |
| 2020 | Krishnammal Jagannathan | Social Work | Tamil Nadu | Social Activist | Veteran social activist dedicated to land reform and uplifting marginalized communities. |
| 2020 | S. C. Jamir | Public Affairs | Nagaland | Politician | Former Chief Minister of Nagaland and Governor of multiple states, acknowledged for his service in public affairs. |
| 2020 | Anil Prakash Joshi | Social Work | Uttarakhand | Environmentalist | Environmentalist and founder of the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO). |
| 2020 | Tsering Landol | Medicine | Ladakh | Gynecologist | One of the first gynecologists in Ladakh, recognized for her dedicated medical services in the region. |
| 2020 | Anand Mahindra | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Chairman of the Mahindra Group, acknowledged for his contributions to business and industry. |
| 2020 | N. R. Madhava Menon* | Public Affairs | Kerala | Legal Educator | Renowned legal educator and founder of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). |
| 2020 | Manohar Parrikar* (posthumous) | Public Affairs | Goa | Politician | Former Defence Minister of India and Chief Minister of Goa, recognized for his service in public affairs. |
| 2020 | Jagdish Sheth* (posthumous) | Literature & Education | USA | Scholar | Distinguished professor of marketing, known for his scholarly contributions to consumer behavior and marketing theory. |
| 2020 | P. V. Sindhu | Sports | Telangana | Badminton Player | World champion badminton player and Olympic medalist, recognized for her achievements in sports. |
| 2020 | Venu Srinivasan | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Chairman of TVS Motor Company, acknowledged for his contributions to trade and industry. |
| 2020 | Sumitra Mahajan | Public Affairs | Madhya Pradesh | Politician | Former Speaker of the Lok Sabha, recognized for her distinguished service in public affairs. |
| 1999 | Pt. Shivkumar Sharma | Arts | Jammu & Kashmir | Santoor Player | Revolutionized Indian classical music with the santoor. |
| 1999 | Ustad Bismillah Khan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Shehnai Player | Legendary shehnai maestro who popularized the instrument globally. |
| 1999 | Justice A.S. Anand | Public Affairs | Jammu & Kashmir | Judge | Former Chief Justice of India. |
| 1999 | Dr. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Played a leading role in India’s missile and nuclear programs. |
| 1998 | Dr. Anil Kakodkar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear energy program. |
| 1998 | Kishori Amonkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Hindustani Vocalist | Known for her contributions to Indian classical music. |
| 1998 | Satish Dhawan | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Aerospace Engineer | Key figure in India’s space research program (ISRO). |
| 1998 | Dr. Ratan Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Businessman | Chairman of Tata Group, known for his leadership and philanthropy. |
| 1997 | Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Vocalist | Legendary Carnatic singer known for devotional music. |
| 1997 | R.K. Narayan | Literature & Education | Tamil Nadu | Writer | Famous for creating the fictional town of Malgudi. |
| 1997 | P.T. Usha | Sports | Kerala | Athlete | Known as the “Queen of Indian track and field.” |
| 1997 | Dr. V. S. Naipaul | Literature & Education | United Kingdom | Writer | Nobel Prize-winning author of Indian descent. |
| 1996 | Nargis Dutt (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Renowned for her work in Indian cinema and social causes. |
| 1996 | Pt. Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitarist | Globally acclaimed sitar maestro. |
| 1996 | Ebrahim Alkazi | Arts | Maharashtra | Theatre Director | Shaped modern Indian theatre and headed NSD. |
| 1996 | Dr. S. Chandrasekhar | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Astrophysicist | Nobel Prize winner for work on stellar evolution. |
| 1994 | Dr. R.K. Laxman | Literature & Education | Maharashtra | Cartoonist | Creator of “The Common Man” cartoon series. |
| 1994 | Manna Dey | Arts | West Bengal | Playback Singer | Iconic playback singer known for his classical-based songs. |
| 1994 | Dr. V. Shanta | Medicine | Tamil Nadu | Oncologist | Known for her work in cancer care and treatment. |
| 1993 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of the Green Revolution in India. |
| 1993 | Zubin Mehta | Arts | Maharashtra | Conductor | Internationally renowned orchestral conductor. |
| 1993 | Dr. V.K. Saraswat | Science & Engineering | Andhra Pradesh | Scientist | Key figure in India’s missile development program. |
| 1992 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | Celebrated for her contributions to Indian music. |
| 1992 | Dr. Kamal Haasan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Acclaimed actor known for his versatile roles. |
| 1992 | Justice P.N. Bhagwati | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Judge | Former Chief Justice of India. |
| 1991 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Actor | Superstar of Indian cinema known for his versatility. |
| 1991 | Dr. Nirmala Deshpande | Social Work | Maharashtra | Gandhian and Peace Activist | Worked for communal harmony and peace. |
| 1991 | Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Sarod Player | One of the greatest sarod players in Indian classical music. |
| 1990 | Raj Kapoor (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor, Director | Legendary actor and director in Indian cinema. |
| 1990 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Nuclear Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear weapons program. |
| 1990 | Pandit Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Vocalist | One of the greatest classical vocalists of India. |
| 1989 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Missile man of India, later became the President of India. |
| 1989 | Shabana Azmi | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her contribution to Indian parallel cinema. |
| 1989 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Known for Operation Flood and White Revolution. |
| 1988 | Dr. Amartya Sen | Literature & Education | West Bengal | Economist | Nobel laureate in economics for his work on welfare economics. |
| 1988 | Ustad Zakir Hussain | Arts | Maharashtra | Tabla Player | Renowned tabla maestro and percussionist. |
| 1988 | K. Balachander | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Film Director | Pioneering director known for his bold and creative storytelling. |
| 1987 | Dr. V. Kurien | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of India’s White Revolution. |
| 1987 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitarist | Internationally acclaimed sitar virtuoso. |
| 1987 | Jagjit Singh | Arts | Punjab | Ghazal Singer | Popularized ghazal singing in India and abroad. |
| 1986 | Sunil Gavaskar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | First batsman to score 10,000 Test runs. |
| 1986 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | One of the most iconic playback singers in Indian music history. |
| 1986 | Kiran Bedi | Civil Service | Delhi | Police Officer | First woman to join the Indian Police Service (IPS). |
| 1985 | Shivkumar Sharma | Arts | Jammu and Kashmir | Santoor Player | Renowned for introducing the santoor to Indian classical music. |
| 1985 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Pioneer of Indian aviation and business leader. |
| 1985 | Sitara Devi | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Kathak Dancer | Celebrated for her mastery of Kathak dance. |
| 1984 | Nargis Dutt (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her powerful performances in Indian cinema. |
| 1984 | Dr. Sam Pitroda | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Technocrat | Known for leading India’s telecom revolution. |
| 1984 | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Politician | First Deputy Prime Minister of India. |
| 1983 | Shashi Kapoor | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Famous Bollywood actor known for his charm and versatility. |
| 1983 | Kishore Kumar | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Playback Singer | Legendary playback singer and music composer. |
| 1983 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Missile man of India, later became the President of India. |
| 1982 | Dilip Kumar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Legendary actor known for his versatile roles in Indian cinema. |
| 1982 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of the Green Revolution in India. |
| 1982 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Humanitarian | Known for her charitable work with the poor in Kolkata. |
| 1981 | Dr. M.G. Ramachandran | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Politician, Actor | Popular actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. |
| 1981 | Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Flautist | Renowned for his classical Hindustani music. |
| 1981 | Dr. Anil Kakodkar | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Played a key role in India’s nuclear program. |
| 1980 | Sunil Gavaskar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | One of the greatest opening batsmen in cricket history. |
| 1980 | Dr. Nirmala Deshpande | Social Work | Maharashtra | Gandhian and Peace Activist | Worked for communal harmony and peace. |
| 1980 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | One of the most celebrated playback singers in India. |
| 1979 | Dr. C.N.R. Rao | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Scientist | Leading chemist known for his work on solid-state chemistry. |
| 1979 | Zubin Mehta | Arts | Maharashtra | Conductor | Internationally acclaimed orchestral conductor. |
| 1979 | Dr. V. Kurien | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Known for the Operation Flood and White Revolution. |
| 1978 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitarist | Globally acclaimed sitar player and composer. |
| 1978 | Dr. V. Shanta | Medicine | Tamil Nadu | Oncologist | Known for her work in cancer care and treatment. |
| 1978 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Actor | One of the greatest actors in Indian cinema history. |
| 1977 | Dr. Kamla Sohonie | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Biochemist | First Indian woman to receive a PhD in a scientific field. |
| 1977 | Raj Kapoor | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor, Filmmaker | Iconic Indian actor and filmmaker. |
| 1977 | Homi J. Bhabha (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Pioneer of India’s nuclear energy program. |
| 1976 | Ustad Vilayat Khan | Arts | West Bengal | Sitarist | One of the greatest sitar players in Indian classical music. |
| 1976 | Balasaheb Thackeray | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Politician | Founder of the Shiv Sena party. |
| 1976 | Verghese Kurien | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1975 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear weapons program. |
| 1975 | Shivaji Ganesan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | One of the most respected actors in Tamil cinema. |
| 1975 | M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Singer | Renowned Carnatic vocalist and cultural ambassador. |
| 1974 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Film Director | Award-winning filmmaker known for his contributions to Indian cinema. |
| 1974 | S.N. Bose (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | West Bengal | Physicist | Pioneer of quantum statistics and Bose-Einstein Condensate. |
| 1974 | Dr. M.C. Modi | Medicine | Karnataka | Ophthalmologist | Known for his work in eye care and cataract surgery. |
| 1973 | Manna Dey | Arts | West Bengal | Singer | Known for his classical-based playback singing. |
| 1973 | Dr. Raja Ramanna | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear weapons program. |
| 1973 | Shivaji Ganesan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | One of the most respected actors in Tamil cinema. |
| 1972 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Actor | One of the greatest actors in Indian cinema history. |
| 1972 | Salim Ali | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Ornithologist | Known as the “Birdman of India.” |
| 1972 | Kishore Kumar | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Playback Singer | Iconic playback singer and actor. |
| 1971 | Baba Amte | Social Work | Maharashtra | Social Reformer | Known for his work with leprosy patients and social justice. |
| 1971 | R.K. Laxman | Literature & Education | Maharashtra | Cartoonist | Creator of The Common Man comic strip. |
| 1971 | Dr. Homi Sethna | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Scientist | Key figure in India’s nuclear program. |
| 1970 | M.F. Husain | Arts | Maharashtra | Painter | Celebrated Indian artist known for his bold and modernist works. |
| 1970 | Balraj Sahni (Posthumous) | Arts | Punjab | Actor | Known for his natural acting style in Indian cinema. |
| 1970 | Dr. Kurien Verghese | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Architect of India’s dairy revolution. |
| 1969 | Prithviraj Kapoor (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Pioneer of Indian theatre and cinema. |
| 1969 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Founder of Tata Airlines (now Air India) and leading industrialist. |
| 1969 | Satish Dhawan | Science & Engineering | Punjab | Scientist | Chairman of ISRO, known for his leadership in space technology. |
| 1968 | Kiran Shankar Roy (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | West Bengal | Politician | Known for his work in the Indian independence movement. |
| 1968 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Public Affairs | Gujarat | Agricultural Scientist | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1968 | Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Singer | First Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award. |
| 1967 | Indira Gandhi | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Politician | First female Prime Minister of India. |
| 1967 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitarist | Globally acclaimed sitar player and composer. |
| 1967 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Father of the Indian space program. |
| 1966 | Dadasaheb Phalke (Posthumous) | Arts | Maharashtra | Filmmaker | Father of Indian cinema. |
| 1966 | K.L. Saigal (Posthumous) | Arts | Jammu & Kashmir | Singer, Actor | Pioneer of playback singing in Indian cinema. |
| 1966 | Bimal Roy (Posthumous) | Arts | West Bengal | Film Director | Known for making socially relevant films like Do Bigha Zamin. |
| 1965 | Pt. Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Classical Singer | Hindustani classical vocalist known for his powerful performances. |
| 1965 | R.K. Narayan | Literature & Education | Tamil Nadu | Author | Famous for the Malgudi Days series and other works. |
| 1965 | Dr. Hargobind Khorana | Science & Engineering | Punjab | Biochemist | Nobel laureate known for work on genetic code synthesis. |
| 1964 | Dr. M. Visvesvaraya (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Engineer | Known for his contributions to irrigation and flood control. |
| 1964 | Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Philosopher, Educationist | Former President of India and influential philosopher. |
| 1964 | Asha Bhonsle | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | Celebrated for her versatile singing career spanning decades. |
| 1963 | Baba Amte | Social Work | Maharashtra | Social Reformer | Known for his work with leprosy patients and social justice movements. |
| 1963 | Mulk Raj Anand | Literature & Education | Maharashtra | Writer | Pioneer of Indian-English literature. |
| 1963 | Shivaji Ganesan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Legendary actor known for his powerful roles in Tamil cinema. |
| 1962 | Dr. Hargobind Khorana | Science & Engineering | Punjab | Biochemist | Nobel laureate known for decoding the genetic code. |
| 1962 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Humanitarian | Founded the Missionaries of Charity and worked for the poor and sick. |
| 1961 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Film Director | Award-winning filmmaker known for his contributions to Indian cinema. |
| 1961 | Tenzing Norgay | Others (Sports) | West Bengal | Mountaineer | First person to summit Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary. |
| 1961 | Dr. J.C. Bose (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | West Bengal | Scientist | Pioneered research in plant biology and wireless communication. |
| 1960 | Indira Gandhi | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Politician | First female Prime Minister of India. |
| 1960 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Father of India’s space program. |
| 1960 | Pt. Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitarist | World-renowned sitar player and composer. |
| 1959 | Dilip Kumar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Iconic actor known for his intense roles in Indian cinema. |
| 1959 | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | Education | Tamil Nadu | Philosopher, Educationist | Former President of India, known for his contributions to philosophy. |
| 1958 | E. Sreedharan | Civil Service | Kerala | Engineer | Known as the “Metro Man of India” for leading the Delhi Metro project. |
| 1958 | Balraj Sahni | Arts | Punjab | Actor | Celebrated for his powerful performances in Indian cinema. |
| 1958 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Aerospace Scientist | Known as the “Missile Man of India” and former President of India. |
| 1957 | Maharishi Mahesh Yogi | Others (Spirituality) | Madhya Pradesh | Spiritual Leader | Founder of the Transcendental Meditation movement. |
| 1957 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | One of India’s greatest playback singers, known for her melodious voice. |
| 1957 | C.V. Raman (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Physicist | Nobel laureate known for the discovery of the Raman Effect. |
| 1956 | Dr. Homi Bhabha (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Founder of India’s nuclear program. |
| 1956 | Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay | Social Work | Karnataka | Social Reformer | Known for her work in promoting Indian handicrafts and theatre. |
| 1956 | Dr. Zakir Husain | Education | Uttar Pradesh | Educationist | Former President of India and key figure in Indian education reforms. |
| 1955 | Govind Ballabh Pant | Public Affairs | Uttarakhand | Politician | First Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and key figure in India’s independence movement. |
| 1955 | P.V. Rajamannar | Public Affairs | Tamil Nadu | Judge | First Indian Chief Justice of the Madras High Court post-independence. |
| 1955 | Dr. M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Agricultural Scientist | Known for his role in India’s Green Revolution. |
| 1955 | Rukmini Devi Arundale | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Classical Dancer | Revived and popularized Bharatanatyam as an art form. |
| 1954 | Dr. B.G. Kher | Public Affairs | Maharashtra | Politician | First Chief Minister of Bombay State, known for his role in India’s freedom movement. |
| 1954 | V.K. Krishna Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala | Diplomat | Indian diplomat and defense minister known for his role at the United Nations. |
| 1954 | Jagdish Chandra Bose (Posthumous) | Science & Engineering | West Bengal | Scientist | Pioneer in plant physiology and radio waves research. |
| 1954 | M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Singer | Legendary Carnatic vocalist and first Indian musician to perform at the United Nations. |
| 1954 | Satyendra Nath Bose | Science & Engineering | West Bengal | Physicist | Known for Bose-Einstein statistics and contributions to quantum mechanics. |
