New Delhi: A total of 30 individuals from diverse fields will be awarded the Padma Shri, India’s third-highest civilian honour, for their exceptional contributions in areas such as yoga, sports, social work, travel journalism, and more.
Among the recipients is Shaikha AJ Al Sabah, a 48-year-old yoga practitioner from Kuwait. She founded Daratma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio, and has been recognised for her efforts in promoting traditional yoga techniques in the Gulf region. Shaikha is also known for spearheading the 2021 fundraiser, Yomnak lil Yaman, which supported Yemeni refugees and displaced individuals.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has approved a total of 139 Padma Awards for 2025, which include seven Padma Vibhushan (three posthumous), 19 Padma Bhushan (four posthumous), and 113 Padma Shri Awards (six posthumous). Among the awardees, 23 are women, and the list features 10 Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI recipients, along with 13 posthumous honorees.
Notable Padma Vibhushan recipients include Indian writer MT Vasudevan Nair, former Suzuki Motor Corporation Chairman Osamu Suzuki, and singer Sharda Sinha (posthumously). Additionally, singer Pankaj Udhas was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Among the Padma Shri winners, the travel journalist duo Hugh and Colleen Gantzer from Uttarakhand were recognised for their remarkable contributions to Indian travel journalism over five decades. Colleen, who passed away in November 2024, will receive the award posthumously. Other notable awardees include Libia Lobo Sardesai, who co-founded the underground radio station Voz da Liberdade during Goa’s freedom movement, and Harvinder Singh, Haryana’s para-archer who won a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
This year’s honorees also include Nagaland fruit farmer L Hangthing, Puducherry instrumentalist P Datchanamoorthy, Madhya Pradesh social entrepreneur Sally Holkar, and Marathi author Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli, among others.
The prestigious Padma Awards, announced annually on Republic Day eve, celebrate achievements in a range of disciplines including public affairs, science, social work, literature, sports, and civil service. The awards will be conferred in March or April at a ceremonial function at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to all the awardees, recognizing their dedication to their respective fields and contributions to society.
