In Presence Of President Macron As Chief Guest, Four Individuals From France Receives Prestigious Padma Awards

Highlighting the robust India-France relations, it has been reported that this year, four individuals from France, the highest number from any foreign country, have been honored with the prestigious Padma awards. The announcement coincided with the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India, where he served as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

On Thursday, the 75th Republic Day, the government released a list of 132 people, six of whom were awarded Padma Shris, and one foreign person was given a Padma Bhushan.

The recipients:

Among the notable recipients from France are 100-year-old yoga exponent Charlotte Chopin, and Kiran Vyas (79), a globally recognized practitioner of yoga and Ayurveda. Additionally, the awards were conferred upon Pierre Sylvain Filliozat (87), a Sanskrit scholar dedicated to advancing Indian culture studies, and Fred Negrit, an Indologist contributing significantly to the awareness and appreciation of Indian culture, as per government citations. All four recipients have been bestowed with the Padma Shri, one of the three categories of the Padma Awards.

Also read: French President Macron Witnesses India’s Grand Republic Day Parade

The Padma Awards:

Established in 1954, the Padma Awards are prestigious civilian honors in India, announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are categorized into Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The awards aim to recognize outstanding achievements across various fields with a significant element of public service.

Also read: French President Macron Witnesses India’s Grand Republic Day Parade

The process for selecting awardees involves recommendations from the Padma Awards Committee, formed annually by the Prime Minister. Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, the committee includes key officials such as the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six distinguished individuals. Following the committee’s recommendations, the final approvals are sought from the Prime Minister and the President of India, making the Padma Awards a symbol of national recognition for exemplary service and contributions.