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The Hindu
The Hindu
National
Vijaita Singh

Explained | Can a recipient decline a Padma award?

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
‘No’ to honour: “I know nothing about this award. No one has told me anything about it,” Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said in a statement, rejecting the Padma Bhushan. (Source: The Hindu)

The story so far: The Padma awards were announced on January 25, and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused the award. His refusal brought to the fore the question under what circumstances a recipient can decline the award. The awards are always announced a day before the Republic Day celebrations. The awards are given away by the President at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually in the months of March-April every year. The functions for the 2020 and 2021 awardees were held together last November because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year the President approved the conferment of 128 Padma Awards.

What are the Padma awards?

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