20 First Padma Awards Quiz - MCQ Questions

Welcome to the Ultimate Padma Awards Quiz! The Padma awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India, instituted in 1954. These awards are announced by the Government of India every year on the eve Republic Day (26th January). The awards are given in three categories:

Padma Vibhushan – for exceptional and distinguished service.
Padma Bhushan – for distinguished service of a high order.
Padma Shri – for distinguished service in any field.

Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honors in India, ranked after the Bharat Ratna. They are conferred to recognize distinguished contributions in various fields of activity or disciplines such as art, literature, education, sports, medicine, social service, public affairs, science and engineering, civil service, and trade and industry.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was one of the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 for his outstanding contribution to education and literature. Test your knowledge with this informative MCQ quiz on the first Padma awards in different category! This MCQ quiz contains 20 important multiple-choice questions based on the first Padma awards, which will test knowledge in static GK topic as well as also enhance your knowledge.

These 20 questions are very important for those who are preparing for the competitive exams like SSC CGL, RRB, UPSC, IES, RRB JE, etc. So, are you ready to test your knowledge and score 20/20? Let’s start from the question number 1.

1. What is the highest civilian award in India?

A. Padma Awards

B. Indian Gallantry Awards

C. Bharat Ratna

D. Jnanpith Award

The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India. It was instituted in 1954 by the Government of India. This award is given for exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature and science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order.

2. When was the Padma Vibhushan award instituted by the Government of India?

A. 1947

B. 1950

C. 1952

D. 1954

The Padma Vibhushan was instituted in 1954 by the Government of India. This award is the second-highest civilian award in India after the Bharat Ratna and announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26 Jan).

3. Which of the following Padma awards is given for “distinguished service of a high order”?

A. Padma Shri

B. Padma Bhushan

C. Padma Vibhushan

D. Bharat Ratna

The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India, which is awarded for distinguished service of a high order in any field. This award is also given for the service rendered by Government servants.

4. Which of the following Padma award is given for “distinguished service” without necessarily being of a high order?

A. Padma Shri

B. Padma Bhushan

C. Padma Vibhushan

D. All of the above

The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, which is awarded for distinguished service in any field. It is conferred on individuals who have made notable contributions but may not meet the higher standards of the other Padma awards.

5. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan for education and literature?

A. Satyendra Nath Bose

B. Dr. C.V. Raman

C. Nand Lal Bose

D. S. Radhakrishnan

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a famous philosopher and the first Vice President of India, was the first recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 for his outstanding contribution to education and literature.

6. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Science & Engineering?

A. Dr. Homi J. Bhabha

B. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

C. Dr. C.V. Raman

D. Satyendra Nath Bose

Satyendra Nath Bose was the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Science & Engineering. He received the award in 1954.

7. Padma awards are usually presented in the month of March or April every year by which of the following?

A. President of India

B. Vice-president of India

C. Prime Minister

D. Both A and B

Padma awards are presented by the President of India, usually in the month of March or April every year.

8. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in the field of Arts?

A. Nand Lal Bose

B. Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher

C. Ravi Shankar

D. Zakir Hussain

Nand Lal Bose was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1954 for his exceptional contribution to the field of Arts. He was a renowned painter and one of the pioneers of modern Indian art.

9. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Bhushan in the field of Social Work?

A. M. S. Subbulakshmi

B. Homi J. Bhabha

C. Dhondo Keshav Karve

D. J. R. D. Tata

Dhondo Keshav Karve was the first recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1954, recognized for his contributions to social work and reform. The Padma Bhushan was first awarded in 1954, and in that year three people received it across various fields. They are: M. S. Subbulakshmi (Arts), Homi J. Bhabha (Science & Engineering), and Dhondo Keshav Karve (Social Work).

10. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Shri in the field of Arts in 1954?

A. B. C. Roy

B. J. C. Kumarappa

C. Pandurang Vaman Kane

D. Nandalal Bose

Nandalal Bose was the first recipient of the Padma Shri in the field of Arts in 1954. However, In 1954, Padma Shri award was also given to various fields, such as Pandurang Vaman Kane (Literature), J. C. Kumarappa (Social Work), etc.

11. Who was the first recipient of the Padma Bhushan in the field of Arts?

A. Ravi Shankar

B. Satyajit Ray

C. M. S. Subbulakshmi

D. Bismillah Khan

M. S. Subbulakshmi was the first recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1954 in the field of Arts.

12. Which former Indian President received all three Padma Awards during their lifetime?

A. Dr. Rajendra Prasad

B. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

C. Dr. Zakir Hussain

D. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the “Missile Man of India” and former President, received the Padma Bhushan (1981), Padma Vibhushan (1990), and the Bharat Ratna (1997).

13. Which of following is not a category under which Padma Awards are usually given?

A. Sports

B. Medicine

C. Military Bravery

D. Literature & Education

Military bravery is recognized through gallantry awards like Param Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, or Ashoka Chakra, not Padma Awards. Padma Awards are civilian honors for achievements in fields like Arts, Literature, Medicine, Sports, etc.

14. Who was the first sports person to receive the Padma Vibhushan?

A. Sachin Tendulkar

B. Kapil Dev

C. Milkha Singh

D. Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand, former World Chess Champion, was the first sports person to receive the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award. He received it in 2007.

15. Who was the first sportsperson to receive the Padma Bhushan?

A. Dhyan Chand

B. Milkha Singh

C. Prithipal Singh

D. Sachin Tendulkar

Major Dhyan Chand, the legendary Indian hockey player, was the first sports person to receive the Padma Bhushan in 1956 for his outstanding contribution to Indian sports and hockey.

16. Who was the first sportsperson to receive the Padma Shri award?

A. K.D. Singh Babu

B. Milkha Singh

C. Balbir Singh Dosanjh

D. Dhyan Chand

Balbir Singh Dosanjh was the first Indian sports person to be honored with the Padma Shri in 1957 for his legendary contribution to Indian field hockey and his Olympic achievements.

17. Who was the first cricketer to receive a Padma award?

A. Kapil Dev

B. Sunil Gavaskar

C. C. K. Nayudu

D. Lala Amarnath

Lala Amarnath, India’s first cricket captain and a legendary all-rounder, was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991.

18. Who was the first woman to receive a Padma award?

A. Aruna Asaf Ali

B. Ratan Shastri

C. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

D. Hansa Mehta

The first Indian woman to receive a Padma Award was Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1955 for contribution in public affairs.

19. Who was the first doctor to receive the Padma Bhushan in Medicine?

A. Dr. B. C. Roy

B. Dr. Devi Shetty

C. Dr. G. Venkataswamy

D. Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy

Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, a legendary physician, was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954. He is also the namesake of Doctors’ Day in India. He was also the second Chief Minister of West Bengal.

20. Who is the first doctor to receive all three Padma awards?

A. Dr. Digambar Behera

B. Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram

C. Dr. Devi Shetty

D. Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy

Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, a renowned gastroenterologist, is the first doctor to receive all three Padma awards: Padma Shri (2002), Padma Bhushan (2016), and Padma Vibhushan (2025).