The prestigious Padma Shri awards have been conferred to two eminent personalities of Tripura including former IPFT supremo and Revenue Minister Narendra Chandra Debbarma posthumously for public affairs and to Bikram Bahadur Jamatia for social works.

The government of India announced this year’s recipient of the prestigious Padma Award on Wednesday evening ahead of the 74th Republic Day celebration. NC Debbarma was born on August 28, 1942, and breathed his last on January 1, 2023, in Agartala at age of 80 as Revenue Minister of Tripura.

Another Padma Shri awardee, Bikram Bahadur Jamatia is well known face of the state for his contribution towards social works.

On Wednesday night, the government of India announced the list of Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines, fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April every year. For the year 2023, the President has approved conferment of 106 Padma Awards including 3 duo cases (in a duo case, the Award is counted as one) as per list. The list comprises 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 2 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 7 Posthumous awardees.