Padma Shri

Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Type	Civilian
Category	National
Instituted	1954
First awarded	1954
Last awarded	2016
Total awarded	2680
Awarded by	; ; Government of India
Ribbon
Award rank
← Padma Bhushan & Kirti Chakra	Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak →

Padma Shri (also Padmashree) is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Awarded by the Government of India, it is announced every year on India's Republic Day.^[2]

History

Padma Awards were instituted in 1954 to be awarded to citizens of India in recognition of their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Medicine, Social Service and Public Affairs. It has also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who were not citizens of India but did contribute in various ways to India.

The selection criteria have been criticized in some quarters with the claim that many highly deserving artists have been left out in order to favor certain individuals.^[3]^{[citation needed]}

On its obverse, the words "Padma", meaning lotus in Sanskrit, and "Shri", a Sanskrit-derived honorific equivalent to 'Mr.' or 'Ms.', appear in Devanagari above and below a lotus flower. The geometrical pattern on either side is in burnished bronze. All embossing is in white gold.

As of 2014^[update], 2680 people have received the award.^[4]^{[needs update]}