New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, veteran singer Asha Bhosle, climate change crusader R K Pachauri, industrialists Ratan Tata and L.N. Mittal, and Sachin Tendulkar were among the 13 persons who have been named for this year’s Padma Visbhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour.
No Bharat Ratna was awarded this year, perhaps because of the political controversy surrounding it.
The last recipient of the Bharat Ratna was Ustad Bismillah Khan in 2001.
The other recipients of Padma Vibhushan included Everest hero Edmund Hillary, who has been conferred posthumously, world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand, former chief justice A S Anand, former civil servant P.N. Dhar, Infosys chief N. R. Narayana Murthy and hotelier P.R.S. Oberoi.
Thirty-five people have been named for Padma Bhushan while 71 for Padma Shri.