'If some people want to see something dirty in an act of pure affection, I feel sorry for them.'
A large number of the civilian awards went to persons from the 'art' category.
Sania Mirza has expressed that she felt ' honoured' and ' humbled' after being conferred with India's third highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan for her contribution in the sport of tennis.
Eight years ago, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain had narrated how his father Alla Rakha had welcomed him into this world by putting the musical instrument's rhythms into his ears when asked to recite prayers.
An angry Saina Nehwal slammed the Sports Ministry after the Olympic bronze medallist's name was not included for the prestigious Padma Bhushan award -- India's third highest civilian award.
The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday lambasted the Jammu and Kashmir government for recommending Ghulam Mohammad Mir, a counter-insurgent for Padma Shri award.
A two-time bronze medallist at the World Championships, Sindhu has risen rapidly up the rankings since becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal, at the Rio Games last year.
On Monday night, when President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Padma awards at a civil investiture ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the loudest applause was reserved for Swami Sivananda, the 125-year-old yoga guru who walked barefoot to receive the Padma Shri -- after prostrating before Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and President Kovind.
The Centre has asked all states to set up special search committees to find out talented people who could be nominated for Padma awards but so far have been left out of consideration despite their exceptional contributions.
Rashtrapati Bhavan has ordered a probe in the Hashmat Ullah Khan controversy who had been conferred the Padma Shri award from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Investigations have shown that there is no person named Hashmat Ullah Khan.
Engineer-turned-philanthropist Sudha Murty on Thursday took oath as Rajya Sabha MP in the presence of her husband N R Narayana Murthy.
No longer, Virendra Kapoor points out, are these awards given on the recommendation of ministers, or the Delhi-based liaison men who had ruled the roast till 2014.
Ramakrushna Dasmohapatra, who was the chief priest during the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha on April 30, on Friday joined the voices demanding withdrawal of the 'Jagannath Dham' phrase attached to the new temple in West Bengal.
Atre, a torch-bearer of the Kirana Gharana of Hindustani classical music, had been honoured with all three Padma awards by the Indian government.
Embarrassed by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's failure to turn up for the Padma Shri awards last Wednesday, the government issued a notification saying National sports awards, like the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna, Dhronacharya and Dhyanchand, will be withdrawn if the recipient is absent from the ceremony without intimation.
Political stalwarts Murli Manohar Joshi, Sharad Pawar and former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, cricketer Virat Kohli and Carnatic musician K J Yesudas were among the 89 people who were selected for this year's Padma awards.
The latest updates from the film industry.
Abhay Singh won the men's doubles crown with Velavan Senthilkumar, while he triumphed in the mixed doubles event with Joshna Chinappa at the Asian Doubles Squash Championships.
'I feel the more I'm trolled by Pakistanis, the more I am on the right path.' 'I must be doing something right for them to be so angry.'
Bollywood is such an integral part of Mumbai that it spills out in the city's busy streets!
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is often known for making statements with her sarees on Budget Day. Each year, she wears a saree that represents India's rich textile heritage and traditional craftsmanship, and this year was no different. This year, Sitharaman chose to wear a beautiful off white saree with intricate golden work, paired with a red blouse and a shawl while carrying her trademark 'bahi-khata', a tablet wrapped in a red-coloured cloth with a golden-coloured national emblem embossed on it.
Eminent cardiac surgeon Dr K M Cherian, who performed the country's first coronary artery bypass surgery about 50 years ago, has passed away. The veteran surgeon, in his 80s, died in Bengaluru on Saturday after reportedly collapsing during a function. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin have expressed their condolences, recognizing Dr Cherian's contributions to cardiology. Dr Cherian, who founded the Frontier Lifeline hospital in Chennai, was a recipient of the Padma Shri award.
Khali, who hails from Dhiraina village of Sirmour district of the state, shot into fame with his performances in US' popular wrestling events -- World Wrestling Entertainment. The one-time World Heavyweight Champion was honoured by the state government during his widely-publicised visit to the country in May this year.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday wrote to Dipa Karmakar conveying his surprise at her decision to retire, a couple of days after the trailblazing Indian gymnast called time on her career.
Avani Lekhara, India's Paralympic shooting sensation, continued her reign of dominance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Star wrestler Vinesh Phogat raised questions about the manner in which Padma awards are given to sportspersons, terming the process as an 'unfair one' after facing the snub for the third time. The current World Championship bronze medallist and one of India's biggest medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics, Vinesh hit out at the government accusing them of leaving out 'deserving' candidates.
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella along with Alphabet Inc and its subsidiary Google CEO Sundararajan Pichai are also among those from trade and industry who have been awarded the Padma Bhushan for their distinguished services.
To make the process of conferring Padma awards more transparent, the home ministry has issued a revised proforma for people who wish to apply for the prestigious civilian honours.
Dhoni is already a recipient of the prestigious Arjuna, Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri award.
'For the first time a para-athlete has been chosen for the honour and I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has a vision for para-athletes and has taken care of their requirements.'
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday sought to distance itself from the controversy about the Centre's decision to award the Padma Shri to Ghulam Mohammed Mir, a former militant.As a controversy raged over the selection of a former militant for the prestigious award, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "I am not aware of the state government making any recommendations. There is unfortunately a lot of controversy over this year's award".
Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and multiple world champion cueist Pankaj Advani were presented with the country's third-highest civilian award -- the Padma Bhushan
Ustad Zakir Hussain was laid to rest on Thursday at a San Francisco cemetery as renowned percussionist A Sivamani and other artistes performed on their drums at a little distance away in a tribute to the tabla maestro.
Manu Bhaker has been shockingly ignored for this year's Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award, a top sports ministry source has asserted
Tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain died at a hospital in San Francisco, his family said on Monday.
The cases of sudden hair loss, or 'acute onset alopecia totalis', were reported in 279 persons in 18 villages of Buldhana between December 2024 and January this year, prompting authorities to order a probe into the matter.
'The attack on Saif Ali Khan yet again raises questions on Mumbai Police & the Home Minister'
I think it is best to abolish the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan -- they dilute the value of the Padma Shri, says RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal in an interview to Indulekha Aravind
Gurcharan Singh, who has coached hundreds of first class cricketers and many international players, was bestowed with the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
