Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : A record number of 49,992 nominations have been received for the Padma Awards-2019. As against 1,313 nominations received in 2010, 18,768 were received in 2016 and 35,595 nominations in 2017. The Government has transformed the Padma Awards into a ‘People’s Awards’ in true sense. People are encouraged to nominate unsung heroes who deserve these top Civilian awards (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri).
The nomination process for Padma Awards was made online in 2016 and a simple, accessible and secure online platform was put in place to encourage citizens to participate in large numbers.The technological intervention that has made the nomination process accessible to the people at large and the emphasis of the Government to confer Padma Awards on unsung heroes, who are doing selfless service to the nation, have resulted in a transformation.
The online nomination process for the Padma Awards to be announced on the occasion of Republic Day, 2019, commenced on May 1, 2018, and the last date for submission of nominations was September 15, 2018, according to a PIB release.
Nominations were invited from Central Ministries/Departments, States/UT Governments, Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees, Institutes of Excellence as also from several other sources to enable broad based consideration.