GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Home Affairs

RAJYASABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.34*
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24TH FEBRUARY, 2010/PHALGUNA 5,1931 (SAKA)
Criteria for Selecting Padma Awardees

*34. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the criteria adopted and the procedure followed for selecting this year’s Padma awardees;

(b) the names of the Members of the Committee which finally decided these awardees; and

(c) whether there are any rules/guidelines prohibiting MPs from being considered for these awards and, if so, since when this rule/guideline has been in operation?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALL Y RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 34 ANSWERED ON 24.2.2010 REGARDING 'CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PADMA AWARDEES'.

(a): In terms of the rules/guidelines regulating Padma Awarels, 'Padma Vibhushan' is given for 'exceptional and distinguished service', 'Padma Bhushan' for 'distinguished service of a high order' and 'Padma Shri' for 'distinguished service' in any field of activity.

Nomination for the award Is open to all. It Is the practice to invite nominations of the award every year from all StatelUT governments, Central Ministries/Departments, Institutes of Excellence and Bharat Ratna and Padma Vlbhushan awardees. Besides nominations from institutional sources, a large number of recommendations are also received from various sources like Governors, Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, private institutions/bodies and individuals etc. Even self sponsored nominations are also received.

All these nominations are compiled in the form of self speaking citations and placed before the Awards Committee for its consideration. The Padma Awards Committee is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Committee scrutinizes all nominatlonslrecommendations placed before it and makes its recommendations for approval of the competent authority.

The basis of selection is the body of work of the individual In any given field and a view Is taken in respect of each nomination by the Padma Awards Committee. No Padma award Is conferred except on the recommendation of the Padma Awards Committee.

R.S.S.Q.NO.34 FOR 24.2.2010

A due diligence exercise, including verification by premier investigatingfintelligence agencies of the Government is undertaken in respect of persons shortllsted by the Padma Awards Committ_ before finalization and announcement of the names on the occasion of Republic Day.

The above criteria and procedure have been followed this year also as in the past.

(b)' The names of the members of the Padma Awards Committee for the Padma awards announced this year are as beiowl:
Shri K.M. Chandrasekhar, Cabinet Secretary
Shri Gopal K. Pillai, Home Secretary
Dr. Christy Fernandez, Secy. to President Shrl
T.K. A. Nair, Principal Secy. to PM
Dr. Smt. Syeda Hameed
Dr. Smt. Kapila Vatsyayan
Dr. R. Chidambaram
Shri Tarun Das
Shrl Girish Kamad

(c), No, Sir.