The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position or gender. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the Government of India expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavor" in December 2011. The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order...without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex." The award criteria include "service in any field including service rendered by Government servants" including doctors and scientists, but exclude those working with the public sector undertakings. As of 2020, the award has been bestowed on 1270 individuals, including twenty-four posthumous and ninety-seven non-citizen recipients.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in the field of cinema. It is presented annually at the National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals, an organisation set up by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The recipient is honoured for their "great and outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema" and is selected by a committee consisting of eminent personalities from the Indian film industry. The award comprises a Swarna Kamal medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,000,000 (US$12,000).
Sonal Mansingh is an Indian classical dancer and Guru in Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancing style. She has been nominated by the President of India to become a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha. She is the recipient of Padma Bhushan in 1992 and Padma Vibhushan in 2003.
D. R. Mehta is a former chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Mehta is a recipient of Padma Bhushan, one of the highest Indian civilian awards, for his contribution to social causes.
Venu Srinivasan is an Indian billionaire industrialist who is the chairman emeritus of two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company and auto components manufacturer TVS Holdings. In addition, he serves on the board of Tata Sons and as one of the vice-chairmen of Tata Trusts. He received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in January 2020.
The Lata Mangeshkar Award is a national-level award instituted to honour works in the field of music. Various state governments of India present awards with this name. The state Government of Madhya Pradesh started this award in 1984. The award consists of a certificate of merit and a cash prize. There is also a Lata Mangeshkar Award issued by the Maharashtra Government starting from 1992. This is also officially known as "Lata Mangeshkar Award for Lifetime Achievement". Another award is given by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
The Raj Kapoor Award is the highest lifetime achievement award in Hindi cinema, established by the Government of Maharashtra, India. It is presented annually by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra. Award instituted in 1998 to recognises individual for their "Lifetime Achievement to Hindi cinema". The recipient is recognized for their exceptional contribution to the Indian cinema and is chosen by a panel of distinguished figures within the Indian film sector. The accolade includes a certificate, a shawl, and a monetary award of ₹5,00,000.
The Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Music Director is an honour established in 1962, and presented at the Maharashtra State Film Awards for best music director Marathi cinema. The first recipient of the award was Sudhir Phadke.
