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Padma Awards

Why in News?

The President of India presented three Padma Vibhushan, eight Padma Bhushan and sixty-one Padma Shri Awards for the year 2020, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in the presence of Vice President of India, Prime Minister, Union Minister for Home Affairs and other dignitaries.

The Padma Awards:

• The Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day (26th January).
• There are 3 Padma Awards:
  (i) Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service),
  (ii) Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service),
  (iii) Padma Shri (distinguished service).
• 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.
• The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The total number of awards to be given in a year (excluding posthumous awards and to NRI/foreigners/OCIs) should not be more than 120.

Is it a title?

• The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.
• Article 18 clause 1- Abolishes titles and makes four provisions in that regard: It prohibits the state from conferring any title (except a military or academic distinction) on anybody, whether a citizen or a foreigner.

Bharat Ratna

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country.
• Bharat Ratna is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
  (i) Recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India.
  (ii) Only 3 Bharat Ratna Awards can be given in a year.

Therefore:

• Bharat Ratna- 1st degree of honour
• Padma Vibhushan- 2nd degree of honour
• Padma Bhushan- 3rd degree of honour
• Padma Shri- 4th degree of honour

Unesco Creative Cities Network 

Why in News?

UNESCO announced that the city of Srinagar has joined the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities (UCCN).

• It has been designated as a Creative City of Craft and Folk Arts.

About UNESCO Creative Cities Network(UCCN):

• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) is a project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO).
• It was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
• Worldwide, 49 new cities have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) following their designation by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, in recognition of their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development and to sharing knowledge and good practices.
• The Network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity – crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music – to advance sustainable urban development.
• The Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.
• By joining the Network, cities commit to sharing their best practices and developing partnerships involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society.
• Earlier Mumbai has been designated as Creative City of Films and Hyderabad a Creative City of Gastronomy, Chennai and Varanasi were included as UNESCO cities of music while Jaipur was included as the City of Crafts and Folk Arts.