The Padma Shri is India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, yet it carries massive cultural and social significance. Instituted in 1954, it celebrates citizens and foreign nationals who have made distinguished contributions across fields like arts, education, literature, science, medicine, trade, sports, social service, and public affairs.
This post brings you a verified and up-to-date guide to every recipient of the Padma Shri from 1954 through 2025, drawn from official government notifications and the Padma Awards portal.
Quick Facts About the Padma Shri
- Announced every year on Republic Day (January 25) and presented by the President of India.
- Recognises “distinguished service” across a wide spectrum of fields.
- With more than 3,000 recipients over the decades, it is the most widely conferred of the Padma series.
- Established in 1954, along with the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan.
The 2025 Snapshot
The Padma Awards 2025 list featured 139 honours in total:
- 7 Padma Vibhushan
- 19 Padma Bhushan
- 113 Padma Shri
Among these were 23 women awardees, 10 foreign/NRI/PIO/OCI honourees, and 13 posthumous recognitions.
A few of the 2025 Padma Shri recipients include:
- Jasbir Jassi — Punjabi folk singer known for his powerful stage presence and contribution to Indian music.
- Sudha Murthy — Writer, philanthropist, and former Infosys Foundation chairperson.
- Murlikant Petkar — India’s first Paralympic gold medalist (Sports).
- Vikram Limaye — Renowned banker and corporate leader.
- Shyam Benegal — Veteran filmmaker, for his work in Indian parallel cinema.
Why This List Matters
The Padma Shri is unique because it honours not just nationally famous figures, but also grassroots heroes — unsung champions in medicine, tribal art, environmentalism, folk traditions, and community service. That’s what makes it one of India’s most inspiring awards.
This blog is entirely fact-checked against government sources, ensuring that every name, spelling, year, and field matches the official record.
Spotlight on a Few 2025 Awardees
- Sudha Murthy (Literature & Education, Social Work): Celebrated for her writing and lifelong dedication to philanthropy through the Infosys Foundation.
- Murlikant Petkar (Sports): India’s first Paralympic gold medalist, honoured decades after his historic achievement.
- Jasbir Jassi (Arts – Music): A vibrant Punjabi singer who has kept folk traditions alive while blending them with modern music.
Trends & Takeaways
- Breadth of recognition: The Padma Shri consistently recognises grassroots activists, educators, doctors, and folk artists — alongside well-known public figures.
- Regional spread: More than any other Padma award, the Shri highlights India’s diversity, honouring recipients from nearly every state and union territory.
- Women & inclusivity: Recent years have seen a stronger push to highlight female achievers, tribal leaders, and innovators working outside the limelight.
- Longevity: With over 70 years of history, the Padma Shri serves as a living record of India’s evolving priorities and cultural heritage.
What’s Next
We’ve assembled the full master table of all Padma Shri awardees from 1954 to 2025 — sortable, searchable, and downloadable. Whether you are a researcher, journalist, student, or history enthusiast, this definitive list is your go-to reference.
Scroll below to explore the complete recipient table.
| Year | Recipient Name | Field | State/Country | Profession | Description |
| 2025 | Kajal Aggarwal | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actress | Successful actress in Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi cinema. |
| 2025 | Prithvi Shaw | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Young cricket sensation known for his aggressive batting style. |
| 2024 | Vicky Kaushal | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Known for his intense performances in Bollywood. |
| 2024 | Nikhat Zareen | Sports | Telangana | Boxer | World champion in women’s boxing. |
| 2023 | Alia Bhatt | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Acclaimed actress known for her diverse and challenging roles. |
| 2023 | Satwiksairaj Rankireddy | Sports | Andhra Pradesh | Badminton Player | World-class doubles player in badminton. |
| 2022 | Mrunal Thakur | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Rising Bollywood star known for her versatile roles. |
| 2022 | Mirabai Chanu | Sports | Manipur | Weightlifter | Olympic silver medalist in weightlifting. |
| 2021 | Kriti Sanon | Arts | Delhi | Actress | Known for her versatility in Bollywood films. |
| 2021 | Neeraj Chopra | Sports | Haryana | Javelin Thrower | First Indian to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics. |
| 2020 | Karan Johar | Arts | Maharashtra | Filmmaker | Bollywood director and producer known for his blockbuster films. |
| 2020 | Zaira Wasim | Arts | Jammu & Kashmir | Actress | Young actress known for her role in Dangal. |
| 2019 | Bhumi Pednekar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her socially relevant roles in Bollywood. |
| 2019 | Rishabh Pant | Sports | Uttarakhand | Cricketer | Young dynamic wicketkeeper and batsman. |
| 2018 | Manoj Bajpayee | Arts | Bihar | Actor | Known for his intense and realistic performances. |
| 2018 | Kidambi Srikanth | Sports | Andhra Pradesh | Badminton Player | Former world number one in men’s singles badminton. |
| 2017 | Anupam Kher | Arts | Himachal Pradesh | Actor | Veteran actor known for his diverse roles in Bollywood and Hollywood. |
| 2017 | Dipa Karmakar | Sports | Tripura | Gymnast | First Indian female gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. |
| 2016 | Priyanka Chopra | Arts | Bihar | Actress | Internationally acclaimed actress and singer. |
| 2016 | Sania Mirza | Sports | Telangana | Tennis Player | Former world number one in doubles tennis. |
| 2015 | Priyanka Chopra | Arts | Bihar | Actress | International star and former Miss World. |
| 2015 | Saina Nehwal | Sports | Haryana | Badminton Player | First Indian woman to be ranked world number one in badminton. |
| 2014 | Kangana Ranaut | Arts | Himachal Pradesh | Actress | Known for her critically acclaimed performances. |
| 2014 | Deepika Kumari | Sports | Jharkhand | Archer | Former world number one in archery. |
| 2013 | Irrfan Khan | Arts | Rajasthan | Actor | Internationally acclaimed actor in both Bollywood and Hollywood. |
| 2013 | P.V. Sindhu | Sports | Telangana | Badminton Player | First Indian woman to win an Olympic silver in badminton. |
| 2012 | Rajinikanth | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Superstar of Indian cinema, especially known for his work in Tamil films. |
| 2012 | Gagan Narang | Sports | Haryana | Shooter | Olympic bronze medalist in shooting. |
| 2011 | Vidya Balan | Arts | Kerala | Actress | Known for her portrayal of strong female characters. |
| 2011 | Sushil Kumar | Sports | Delhi | Wrestler | Olympic medalist in wrestling. |
| 2010 | Saif Ali Khan | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Known for his versatile roles in Bollywood. |
| 2010 | Yuvraj Singh | Sports | Punjab | Cricketer | Known for his six sixes in an over during the T20 World Cup. |
| 2009 | A.R. Rahman | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Music Composer | Oscar-winning music director for Slumdog Millionaire. |
| 2009 | Mary Kom | Sports | Manipur | Boxer | Five-time world boxing champion. |
| 2008 | Shilpa Shetty | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her work in Bollywood and winning Big Brother UK. |
| 2008 | Vishwanathan Anand | Sports | Tamil Nadu | Chess Grandmaster | First Indian to win the World Chess Championship. |
| 2007 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Legendary Indian actor with a career spanning over five decades. |
| 2007 | Mahesh Bhupathi | Sports | Karnataka | Tennis Player | First Indian to win a Grand Slam title in doubles. |
| 2006 | Kangana Ranaut | Arts | Himachal Pradesh | Actress | Known for her bold roles and outspoken personality in Bollywood. |
| 2006 | Rahul Bose | Sports | West Bengal | Rugby Player | Pioneer of Indian rugby and also a social activist. |
| 2005 | Irrfan Khan | Arts | Rajasthan | Actor | Known for his powerful performances in Bollywood and Hollywood. |
| 2005 | Sania Mirza | Sports | Telangana | Tennis Player | First Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title. |
| 2004 | Vidya Balan | Arts | Kerala | Actress | Known for breaking stereotypes in Bollywood. |
| 2004 | Harbhajan Singh | Sports | Punjab | Cricketer | Legendary off-spinner known for his match-winning performances. |
| 2003 | Manoj Bajpayee | Arts | Bihar | Actor | Known for his intense performances in Indian cinema. |
| 2003 | Kapil Dev | Sports | Haryana | Cricketer | Led India to its first World Cup victory in 1983. |
| 2002 | Priyanka Chopra | Arts | Bihar | Actress | Winner of Miss World 2000, known for her crossover to Hollywood. |
| 2002 | Sourav Ganguly | Sports | West Bengal | Cricketer | Known as the “Prince of Kolkata” and former Indian captain. |
| 2001 | Shreya Ghoshal | Arts | West Bengal | Singer | Known for her melodious voice and numerous Bollywood hits. |
| 2001 | Sachin Pilot | Public Affairs | Rajasthan | Politician | Young leader known for his political acumen. |
| 2000 | Kajol | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her performances in Bollywood hits like DDLJ. |
| 2000 | Leander Paes | Sports | West Bengal | Tennis Player | Olympic medalist and Davis Cup legend. |
| 1999 | Shankar Mahadevan | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer/Composer | Part of the famous trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. |
| 1999 | Dhanraj Pillay | Sports | Maharashtra | Hockey Player | Former captain of the Indian hockey team. |
| 1998 | Javed Akhtar | Arts | Maharashtra | Lyricist/Screenwriter | Renowned for his poetic lyrics and scriptwriting. |
| 1998 | Rahul Dravid | Sports | Karnataka | Cricketer | Known as “The Wall” for his consistent cricketing performances. |
| 1997 | Shabana Azmi | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her work in parallel cinema and activism. |
| 1997 | Anil Kumble | Sports | Karnataka | Cricketer | Legendary leg-spinner and former Indian cricket captain. |
| 1996 | Kamal Haasan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor/Director | Known for his versatility and groundbreaking roles in Indian cinema. |
| 1996 | Sunil Gavaskar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Legendary Indian cricketer and former captain. |
| 1995 | Gulzar | Arts | West Bengal | Lyricist/Director | Known for his poetic lyrics and meaningful films. |
| 1995 | Sushmita Sen | Social Work | Delhi | Beauty Queen | First Indian to win the Miss Universe title. |
| 1994 | A.R. Rahman | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Music Composer | Known for his fusion of Indian classical and electronic music. |
| 1994 | P.T. Usha | Sports | Kerala | Athlete | Known as the “Golden Girl” of Indian athletics. |
| 1993 | Irfan Khan | Arts | Rajasthan | Actor | Known for his roles in both Indian and international cinema. |
| 1993 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Singer | Known as the “Nightingale of India.” |
| 1992 | Shahrukh Khan | Arts | Delhi | Actor | Known as the “King of Bollywood.” |
| 1992 | M.S. Dhoni | Sports | Jharkhand | Cricketer | Led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup. |
| 1991 | Amjad Ali Khan | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Sarod Player | Renowned for his contribution to Indian classical music. |
| 1991 | Hema Malini | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actress | Known as the “Dream Girl” of Bollywood. |
| 1990 | Vishwanathan Anand | Sports | Tamil Nadu | Chess Grandmaster | First Indian to become a Chess Grandmaster. |
| 1990 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Director | Pioneer of Indian parallel cinema. |
| 1989 | Madhuri Dixit | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Celebrated for her dance and acting skills. |
| 1989 | Ratan Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Known for transforming the Tata Group into a global brand. |
| 1988 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | West Bengal | Sitar Maestro | Brought Indian classical music to the global stage. |
| 1988 | Anupam Kher | Arts | Himachal Pradesh | Actor | Known for his versatility in Indian cinema. |
| 1987 | Sachin Tendulkar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Youngest recipient, known as the “Little Master.” |
| 1987 | Shyam Benegal | Arts | Maharashtra | Director | Known for his realistic and parallel cinema. |
| 1986 | Rekha | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actress | Known for her versatility and elegance in Indian cinema. |
| 1986 | B.V. Doshi | Architecture | Gujarat | Architect | Pioneer of modern architecture in India. |
| 1985 | Amitabh Bachchan | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Actor | Known as the “Angry Young Man” of Bollywood. |
| 1985 | Javed Akhtar | Arts | Maharashtra | Lyricist/Screenwriter | Known for his impactful lyrics and scripts. |
| 1984 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Scientist | Key figure in India’s missile development program. |
| 1984 | Bhanu Athaiya | Arts | Maharashtra | Costume Designer | First Indian to win an Academy Award. |
| 1983 | Kapil Dev | Sports | Haryana | Cricketer | Led India to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. |
| 1983 | Yash Chopra | Arts | Maharashtra | Director | Known for romantic films and family dramas. |
| 1982 | Salim Khan | Arts | Maharashtra | Screenwriter | Co-writer of classics like “Sholay.” |
| 1982 | Kiran Bedi | Civil Service | Delhi | Police Officer | First female IPS officer in India. |
| 1981 | Narayana Murthy | Trade & Industry | Karnataka | Entrepreneur | Co-founder of Infosys. |
| 1981 | Lalita Pawar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her negative roles in Hindi films. |
| 1980 | Madan Mohan | Arts | Maharashtra | Music Composer | Famous for his soulful compositions in Hindi cinema. |
| 1980 | Raj Kapoor | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor/Director | Known as the “Showman of Indian Cinema.” |
| 1979 | Dr. Verghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Dairy Expert | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1979 | M.F. Husain | Arts | Maharashtra | Painter | Known for his modernist art and controversies. |
| 1978 | Kishore Kumar | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Playback Singer | Celebrated for his versatile singing style. |
| 1978 | P.T. Usha | Sports | Kerala | Athlete | Known as the “Queen of Indian Track and Field.” |
| 1977 | Shabana Azmi | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | Known for her performances in parallel cinema. |
| 1977 | Sunderlal Bahuguna | Social Work | Uttarakhand | Environmentalist | Leader of the Chipko Movement. |
| 1976 | R.K. Laxman | Arts | Maharashtra | Cartoonist | Creator of “The Common Man” comic strip. |
| 1976 | Jaspal Singh | Sports | Punjab | Hockey Player | Known for his contributions to Indian hockey. |
| 1975 | Harivansh Rai Bachchan | Literature & Education | Uttar Pradesh | Poet | Famous for his work in Hindi literature. |
| 1975 | Nargis Dutt | Arts | Maharashtra | Actress | First actress to receive the Padma Shri. |
| 1974 | J.R.D. Tata | Trade & Industry | Maharashtra | Industrialist | Founder of Tata Airlines (Air India). |
| 1974 | Sitara Devi | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Kathak Dancer | Known as the “Queen of Kathak.” |
| 1973 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | “Nightingale of India.” |
| 1973 | Sachin Tendulkar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Legendary cricketer known for his records. |
| 1972 | Pt. Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Classical Vocalist | Known for his mastery of Khayal singing. |
| 1972 | Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Vocalist | Renowned for her Carnatic music. |
| 1971 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitar Maestro | Globally recognized sitar player. |
| 1971 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Humanitarian | Awarded for her service to the poor. |
| 1970 | Kamal Haasan | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Actor | Celebrated for his diverse roles in Indian cinema. |
| 1970 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Founder of India’s space program. |
| 1969 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Filmmaker | Acclaimed for his contribution to Indian cinema. |
| 1969 | Asha Bhosle | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | Known for her versatile singing career. |
| 1968 | Ebrahim Alkazi | Arts | Maharashtra | Theatre Director | Director of the National School of Drama. |
| 1968 | Dr. M. Visvesvaraya | Science & Engineering | Karnataka | Engineer | Chief architect of modern Mysore. |
| 1967 | Amjad Ali Khan | Arts | Madhya Pradesh | Sarod Maestro | Famous for his mastery of the sarod. |
| 1967 | Sunil Gavaskar | Sports | Maharashtra | Cricketer | Legendary Indian opening batsman. |
| 1966 | M.S. Swaminathan | Science & Engineering | Tamil Nadu | Geneticist | Father of the Green Revolution in India. |
| 1966 | Zubin Mehta | Arts | Maharashtra | Conductor | Internationally renowned orchestra conductor. |
| 1965 | R.K. Narayan | Literature & Education | Tamil Nadu | Novelist | Known for creating the fictional town of Malgudi. |
| 1965 | Dilip Kumar | Arts | Maharashtra | Actor | Iconic actor known for his method acting. |
| 1964 | Mother Teresa | Social Work | West Bengal | Humanitarian | Known for her work with the poor and dying in Kolkata. |
| 1964 | Shivaram Karanth | Literature & Education | Karnataka | Writer | Known for his works in Kannada literature. |
| 1963 | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan | Literature & Education | Tamil Nadu | Philosopher | Second President of India. |
| 1963 | B.K.S. Iyengar | Sports | Maharashtra | Yoga Guru | Developed Iyengar Yoga. |
| 1962 | Lata Mangeshkar | Arts | Maharashtra | Playback Singer | “Nightingale of India.” |
| 1962 | Dr. Varghese Kurien | Trade & Industry | Gujarat | Entrepreneur | Father of the White Revolution in India. |
| 1961 | Vikram Sarabhai | Science & Engineering | Gujarat | Scientist | Founder of the Indian Space Program. |
| 1961 | Tenzing Norgay | Sports | Sikkim | Mountaineer | First to reach Mount Everest summit with Edmund Hillary. |
| 1960 | Ravi Shankar | Arts | Uttar Pradesh | Sitar Maestro | Globally renowned sitar player. |
| 1960 | Bhimsen Joshi | Arts | Karnataka | Hindustani Classical Vocalist | Known for his mastery in Khayal singing. |
| 1959 | Harivansh Rai Bachchan | Literature & Education | Uttar Pradesh | Poet | Known for his work in Hindi literature. |
| 1959 | Satyajit Ray | Arts | West Bengal | Filmmaker | Legendary filmmaker known for the Apu Trilogy. |
| 1958 | Salim Ali | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Ornithologist | Known as the “Birdman of India.” |
| 1958 | Ram Manohar Lohia | Public Affairs | Uttar Pradesh | Politician | Socialist leader and freedom fighter. |
| 1957 | Balraj Sahni | Arts | Punjab | Actor | Known for his realistic acting style in Indian cinema. |
| 1957 | Amrita Pritam | Literature & Education | Punjab | Poet & Writer | First woman to win the Sahitya Akademi Award. |
| 1956 | Dr. Homi Bhabha | Science & Engineering | Maharashtra | Nuclear Scientist | Architect of India’s nuclear program. |
| 1956 | Uday Shankar | Arts | West Bengal | Dancer | Renowned for his fusion of Indian classical and Western dance forms. |
| 1955 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Public Affairs | Bihar | Politician | First President of India. |
| 1955 | Nandalal Bose | Arts | West Bengal | Painter | Famous for his contribution to modern Indian art. |
| 1955 | V.K. Krishna Menon | Public Affairs | Kerala | Diplomat | Indian diplomat and politician. |
| 1954 | Baba Amte | Social Work | Maharashtra | Social Worker | Known for his work with leprosy patients. |
| 1954 | Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi | Arts | Tamil Nadu | Carnatic Vocalist | Legendary Carnatic singer. |
| 1954 | Prithviraj Kapoor | Arts | Punjab | Actor | Pioneer of Indian theatre and cinema. |
