Republic Day: 8 people from Delhi get Padma Awards

On Republic Day, the government announced that eight people from Delhi are among the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards for 2025. These awards, one of India’s highest civilian honours, recognize individuals for their distinguished contributions across various fields. This year, 139 Padma Awards were announced, including 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.

Among the recipients, two people from Delhi received the Padma Bhushan, and six were honoured with the Padma Shri.

Bibek Debroy (posthumous) has been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his remarkable contributions to literature and education. Known for his work as an economist and scholar, Debroy left a lasting impact on Indian economic thought and ancient texts. Shri Kailash Nath Dikshit has also been honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his work in archaeology, contributing significantly to the preservation of India’s cultural heritage.

The six Padma Shri awardees from Delhi include Barry Godfray John, recognised for his contributions to theatre and the performing arts, and Bharat Gupt, celebrated for his scholarly work in Indian classical music and literature. Shri C S Vaidyanathan, a senior advocate, was honoured for his work in public affairs.

Among the Padma Shri recipients is Dr Neerja Bhatla, a former professor and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at AIIMS. Dr Bhatla has been awarded for her groundbreaking work in the field of medicine, particularly in the prevention of cervical cancer. After retiring from AIIMS, Dr Bhatla continued to lead research initiatives focusing on cervical cancer prevention, including affordable HPV testing and vaccine trials in low-resource settings.

Dr Bhatla has been a pivotal figure in the development of an indigenous vaccine for cervical cancer, which is expected to be available in the market soon. The vaccine, currently in its final trial phase, is projected to be administered to girls aged 9 to 14 under India’s national immunization program, significantly reducing the risk of cervical cancer.

In her role as President of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), Dr. Bhatla led the development of the FIGO Gynecological Cancer Management App, an essential tool for doctors managing cancer cases globally. Her work has helped improve cervical cancer screening in India and globally, ensuring better accessibility and affordability of treatment for women.

Other Delhi-based awardees include Dr. Ramdarash Mishra, a noted Hindi poet and writer, honoured for his contributions to literature, and Shri Surinder Kumar Vasal, who received the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to agricultural science.

The Padma Awards will be presented by the President of India at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan later this year.