Civilian awards of India are conferred to common man for showing distinguished work in their field of work. Any specific work background is not necessary for this. Any civilian who has shown great achievements in their field of professional work are considered eligible for this award. Various decorations which come under civilian awards of India – Bharat Ratna, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. These awards have a degree of reputation and honour. Bharat Ratna is of 1st degree, Padma Vibhushan is 2nd degree, Padma Bhushan is 3rd degree while Padma Shri is of last degree of honour of Civilian Awards. All these awards are conferred by President of India on the Republic Day. All of these awards were started from year 1954. All of these medals are produced at Indian Government Mint of Kolkata.
Bharat Ratna : Highest Civilian Award of India 
- Bharat Ratna is considered as the highest civilian award. These awards are conferred for achievements in the field of Science, Arts, Literature and Public services. Later amendment was done in year 2013 in eligibility criteria and sports category was also included for considering the awards.
- The award is in the form of Peepal leef, about 5.8 cm long, 4.7 cm wide and 3.1 mm thick. It is of toned bronze. It is embossed with a replica of Sun, 1.6 cm in diameter below which the words “Bharat Ratna” are embossed in Devnagri script. On the reverse are state emblem and the state motto (Satyameva Jayte), also in Devnagri script. The emblem, the sun and the rim are of platinum. The inscriptions are in burnished bronze.
- The first three recipients of the Bharat Ratna Award were C. Rajagopalachari, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Dr C V Raman during the inception year 1954.
- The first Prime Minister who received this award posthumously was Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- Two foreign nationals have been awarded so far with this prestigious award. They were i) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and ii) Nelson Mandela.
Read : Interesting Facts about Bharat Ratna Awards
Padma Vibushan : Second Highest Civilian Award of India 
- In order of rank this award is considered as second highest honour after Bharat Ratna awards. The award is given for exceptional and distinguished services in any field like Science, arts, public service including the services rendered by government employees.
- The decoration is circular in design, with a geometric pattern superimposed on the circle. The diameter of the circle is 4.4 cm and the thickness about 0.6 mm. There is lotus flower embossed on the circular space. The word “Padma” is embossed in Devnagri script above the word “Vibhushan” which comes below the lotus flower. On the reverse are the state emblem and motto Satya Meva Jayte inscribed in Devnagri script. It is of toned bronze. The inscription “Padma Vibhushan”, geometric pattern and the border around periphery are in burnished bronze. All embossing on either side of decoration is in white gold.
- This award was started in year 1954 and first recipients of this award were S N Bose, Nand Lal Bose, Zakir Hussain, B G Kher, J D Wangchuk and V K Menon.
- Sachin Tendulkar is the youngest person who received Padma Vibhushan Award in year 2008. Sachin Tendulkar also received Arjuna Award in 1994, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1997, Padma Shri in year 1999 and Bharat Ratna in 2104.
Padma Bhushan : Third Highest Civilian Award of India
- In order of rank this award is considered as third highest honour after Bharat Ratna awards The award is given for distinguished service of a high order in any field including services rendered by government employees.
- It has the same design as the “Padma Vibhushan”. On the obverse the word “Padma” appears above the word “Vibhushan” which comes below the lotus flower. The inscription “Padma Bhushan” on the obverse, the geometric pattern on either side and the border around the periphery are in burnished bronze. All embossing either side of the decoration is in standard gold.
- This award was also started in year 1954 and some of the first recipients include Homi Jahangir Bhabha, Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar, M S Subbalakshmi, Sukumar Sen, Amar Nath Jha, R R Handa and Radha Krishan Gupta.
Padma Shri: Fouth Highest Civilian Awards of India
- In order of rank this award is considered as fourth highest honour after Bharat Ratna awards The award is given for distinguished services in any field including the services rendered by government employees.
- The name of the decoration is embossed in Devnagri script with the word “Padma” above the word “Shri” which comes below the lotus flower on the obverse. The inscription “Padma Shri” on the obverse, the geometric pattern on either side and the border around the periphery are in burnished bronze. All embossing on either side of decoration is in stainless steel.
- This award was also started in year 1954 and some of the first recipients include Dr Mathura Das, Dr K R Chakraborty and Akhil Chandra Mitra.