President Pranab Mukherjee will award seven Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri awards this Republic Day.
There are 19 women in the Padma awards list this year, including tribal singer Sukri Bommagowda and Kalaripayattu exponent Meenakshi Ammal.
The list also includes five persons each from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and six posthumous awardees.
In music, veteran classical and playback singer KJ Yesudas was named for the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, while Grammy-winning Hindustani classical music instrumentalist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt was named for the Padma Bhushan. Popular singers Kailash Kher and Anuradha Paudwal are among this year's Padma Shri awardees.
In sports, Indian cricket skipper Virat Kohli, hockey captain PR Sreejesh, 2016 Olympic medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik.
Para-athletes Deepa Malik and Mariyappan Thangavelu were named for the prestigious Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award.
Apart from them, gymnast sensation Dipa Karmakar, discus thrower Vikas Gowda and blind cricketer Shekhar Naik also figure in the list of awardees.
Amongst politicians, seasoned leaders like Sharad Pawar, Murli Manohar Joshi and the late PA Sangma are among seven recipients of the Padma Vibhushan award, India's second-highest civilian honour.
Padma awards are one among the highest civilian awards of the country, which are given by the President of India.
The awards are conferred in three categories, viz. Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The awards are given in various disciplines/fields of activities, like art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
Full list of Padma Vibhushan:
Full list of Padma Bhushan
Full list of Padma Shri