The online process for nominations and recommendations for the Padma Awards 2024 are underway and the last date is on Friday, September 15.

Asking general public to send their nominations and recommendations for the awards, the Union Home Ministry has said it will be received online only on the Rashtriya Puruskar Portal (https://awards.gov.in ).

The Padma awards -- Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri -- are amongst the highest civilian awards of the country.

All citizens can make nominations and recommendations, including self-nomination.

The award seeks to recognise 'work of distinction' and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements and service in all fields and disciplines such as Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry etc.

All persons without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex are eligible for these awards. Government servants including those working with PSUs, except doctors and scientists, are not eligible for Padma awards.

Instituted in 1954, these awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year.

The Modi government has transformed the Padma awards into "People's Padma", the officials said.

They said this government has been making concerted efforts to identify talented persons whose excellence and achievements really deserve to be recognised from amongst women, weaker sections of the society, SCs and STs, divyang persons and who are doing selfless service to the society.

The nominations and recommendations should contain all relevant details specified in the format available on the above-mentioned Portal, including a citation in narrative form (maximum 800 words), clearly bringing out the distinguished and exceptional achievements and service of the person recommended in her and his respective field and discipline.

Further details in this regard are also available under the heading 'Awards and Medals' on the website of Ministry of Home Affairs (https://mha.gov.in) and on Padma awards Portal ((https://padmaawards.gov.in).

The statutes and rules relating to these awards are available on the website with the link https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award, is given for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order; and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

In last nine years, many of the awardees were unsung heroes who have been silently working for the betterment of society and people, and whom the Modi government has honoured ever since it came to power in 2014, officials said.

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