The Padma Awards 2024 list, revealed by the Home Ministry on Republic Day eve, brings cheer to India’s corporate corridors. Uday Kotak, the banking maestro behind Kotak Mahindra Bank’s meteoric rise, is awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, acknowledging his decades-long impact on financial inclusion and economic reforms.
Padma Shri goes to Ashok Khade of Das Offshore Engineering, pioneering shipping solutions from Maharashtra, and Satyanarayan Nuwal of Solar Industries, fortifying India’s defense capabilities through indigenous innovation. Posthumously, TT Jagannathan of Prestige is remembered for making modern kitchen tools accessible to millions.
Out of 131 awardees, the distribution stands at five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Bhushan, and 113 Shri. Diversity marks the list with 19 women, six NRI/OCI recipients, and 16 posthumous honors, including two couples.
These civilian accolades, hierarchy starting with Vibhushan for exceptional service, Bhushan for distinguished high-level contributions, and Shri for notable field expertise, are a yearly Republic Day tradition. They recognize sustained excellence in sectors from business and medicine to arts and social work.
As the nation prepares for Republic Day celebrations, these awards serve as a beacon, motivating future generations. The formal investiture by the President in Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year will cap this cycle of national recognition.