The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has congratulated international recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards 2025 for their remarkable contributions across various fields.
In a statement posted on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed the ministry’s appreciation, saying, “Commemorating excellence & contributions to society. Congratulations to our distinguished friends from abroad on being selected for Padma Awards 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu for their outstanding contribution in various fields.”
Among the international honorees, Osamu Suzuki of Japan was awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in the Trade and Industry category. Vinod Dham, an inventor from the United States, received the Padma Bhushan in Science and Engineering.
In the Science and Engineering category, Ajay V Bhatt and Sethuraman Panchanathan, both from the US, along with Chetan E Chitnis from France, were awarded the Padma Shri. Additionally, Stephen Knapp, Nitin Nohria from the US, and Arvind Sharma from Canada were honored in the Literature and Education category.
Jonas Masetti from Brazil was awarded the Padma Shri in Spiritualism, and Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah from Kuwait received the Padma Shri in Medicine.
The Padma awards are among India’s highest civilian honors and are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of high order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service in any field).
These prestigious awards are announced annually on Republic Day, and the formal presentation ceremony is typically held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in March or April.
This year’s list of awardees, approved by President Droupadi Murmu, includes 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients. The list recognizes 23 women and features 10 distinguished individuals from the Foreigners, NRI, PIO, and OCI categories, along with 13 posthumous awardees. The honorees represent a wide range of fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.