Beyond Politics: Modi Government’s Civilian Honours Reflect Cross-Party Recognition

Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 21:45 IST

Over the past decade, leaders from opposition parties, regional stalwarts, and ideological rivals have featured prominently in the honours list.

This stands in contrast to earlier periods when no BJP leader was recognised during the tenure of Congress-led governments. (File image)

In an era where political polarisation often dominates public discourse, India’s highest civilian honours—the Padma Awards and the Bharat Ratna—have increasingly emerged as a space of cross-party recognition. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, the selection of awardees has reflected an effort to acknowledge contributions that transcend political affiliations and ideological boundaries.

Over the past decade, leaders from opposition parties, regional stalwarts, and ideological rivals have featured prominently in the honours list. This stands in contrast to earlier periods when no BJP leader was recognised during the tenure of Congress-led governments.

This trend further continued in recent announcement of Padma Awards. Veteran Left leader V Natesan and late BJP leader V K Malhotra were conferred the Padma Bhushan, while former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was also honoured with the same award for his political and social contributions. Former Kerala Chief Minister and Left veteran V S Achuthanandan received the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

Senior BJP leader and three-time Member of Parliament from Assam, Kabindra Purkayastha, was awarded the Padma Shri, reflecting recognition for long-standing public service.

Among earlier recipients, veteran Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad received the Padma Bhushan, while former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was honoured posthumously with the same award in 2021.

Several other opposition leaders have also been recognised over the years, including Sharad Pawar (Padma Bhushan, 2017), former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma (posthumous, 2017), former Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir (2020), and Congress leader Tokheho Sema (2016). CPI(M) leader and former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was named for the Padma Bhushan but he declined the honour. Former Rajya Sabha MP Tarlochan Singh and PDP leader Muzaffar Baig from Jammu and Kashmir have also figured in the prestigious awards’ lists.

The Bharat Ratna awards under the Modi government have similarly reflected a broad national consensus. Since 2014, ten personalities have been conferred India’s highest civilian honour. In 2015, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya were honoured. In 2019, former President and Congress veteran Pranab Mukherjee, social reformer Nanaji Deshmukh, and cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika received the topmost civilian award.

The year 2024 marked a historic moment with five Bharat Ratna awards announced—the highest in a single year. The recipients included socialist leader Karpoori Thakur, former Deputy Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani, former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, and agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan.

Taken together, these honours underline a broader narrative: while electoral politics remains intensely competitive, civilian recognition under the Modi government has increasingly reflected inclusivity and historical acknowledgement.

As debates continue over the role of politics in public life, the pattern of civilian awards over the past decade offers a counterpoint—one where national contribution has, at least symbolically, risen above partisanship.

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