Rashtrapati Bhavan

Padma Awards: SII chairman Cyrus Poonawalla, Late CDS Gen Rawat, Ghulam Nabi Azad, others honoured

India's first Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, who died in a chopper crash last December, late Radheshyam Khemka, former chairman of Gita Press that publishes Hindu religious books, and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad were among 54 prominent personalities who were conferred Padma awards by President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday. While Rawat and Khemka were given Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian award, posthumously, Azad, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharan, former CAG Rajiv Mehrishi, founder of Serum Institute of India that made COVID-19 vaccine Covishield Cyrus Poonawalla were among the eight honoured with Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian award, at a civil investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. See Photos.