The
Padma Bhushan
is the third-highest
civilian award
of the
Republic of India
. Instituted on 2
January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The recipients receive a
Sanad
, a certificate signed by the
President of India
and a circular-shaped medallion with no monetary association. The recipients are announced every year on
Republic Day
(26
January) and registered in
The Gazette of India
?a publication used for official government notices and released weekly by the Department of Publication, under the
Ministry of Urban Development
. The conferral of the award is not considered official without its publication in the
Gazette
. The name of a recipient, whose award has been revoked or restored, both of which require the authority of the President, is archived and they are required to surrender their medal when their name is struck from the register. , none of the conferments of Padma Bhushan during the 2010s have been revoked or restored. The recommendations are received from all the
state and the union territory governments
, as well as from
Ministries of the Government of India
, the
Bharat Ratna
and the
Padma Vibhushan awardees
, the Institutes of Excellence, the
Ministers
, the
Chief Ministers
and the
Governors of State
, and the
Members of Parliament
including private individuals.
When instituted in 1954, the Padma Bhushan was classified as "Dusra Varg" (Class II) under the three-tier
Padma Vibhushan
awards, which were preceded by the Bharat Ratna in hierarchy. On 15
January 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was reclassified into three different awards as the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the
Padma Shri
. The criteria included "distinguished service of a high order in any field including service rendered by Government servants", but excluded those working with the
public sector undertakings
with the exception of doctors and scientists. The 1954 statutes did not allow posthumous awards; this was subsequently modified in the January 1955 statute. The design was also changed to the form that is currently in use; it portrays a circular-shaped toned bronze medallion
1
+
3
⁄
4
inches (44 mm) in diameter and
1
⁄
8
inch (3.2 mm) thick. The centrally placed pattern made of outer lines of a square of
1
+
3
⁄
16
inches (30 mm) side is embossed with a knob carved within each of the outer angles of the pattern. A raised circular space of diameter
1
+
1
⁄
16
inches (27 mm) is placed at the centre of the decoration. A centrally located lotus flower is embossed on the obverse side of the medal and the text "Padma" is placed above and the text "Bhushan" is placed below the lotus written in
Devanagari
script. The
State Emblem of India
is displayed in the centre of the reverse side, together with the national motto of India, "
Satyameva Jayate
" (Truth alone triumphs) in Devanagari script, which is inscribed on the lower edge. The rim, the edges and all embossing on either side is of standard gold with the text "Padma Bhushan" of gold gilt. The medal is suspended by a pink riband
1
+
1
⁄
4
inches (32 mm) in width with a broad white stripe in the middle. It is ranked fifth in the order of precedence of wearing of medals and decorations of
the Indian civilian and military awards
. (
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