Dr A Nageshwara Rao and Palle Rama Rao were conferred with the Padma Vibhushan while Dr K Anji Reddy, Dr Gunapati VenkataKrishna Reddy were named as recipients of the Padma Bhushan and VangipurapuVenkata Sai Laxman or Very Very Special Laxman and shooter Gagan Narang from Andhra Pradesh were among the eminent personalities named for the Padma Shri awards on Tuesday.
Their names were approved by the President of India for the conferment of Padma Awards-2010. This year the President approved 128 awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 12 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs/ Posthumous.
These comprise 13 Padma Vibhushan, 31 Padma Bhushan and 84 Padma Shri Awards. There are 31 ladies among the awardees. Apart from the above named, film actress Tabassum Hashmi Khan or Tabu as she is more popularly known was also named as the recipient of the Padma Shri, but she was counted as a resident of Maharashtra. Also figuring in the list of Padma Shri awardees were Gajam Govardhana, Prof EA Siddiq, Narayan Singh Bhati, Prof PullellaSrirama Chandrudu and Prof KoneruRamakrishna Rao.
Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of activities such as 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 and are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March/ April.