
Padma Awards were declared on Thursday (Jan 25) on the eve of India's Republic Day 2024. Theseare some of the highest civilian awards in India. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award while the Padma Awards are second in the hierarchy of honours conferred on individuals for their exceptional work in various fields. There are three categories of Padma Awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan (in ascending order).