Padma Awards, India’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of visual art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. The 2011 awardees for arts and literature are:
- Shri Thayil Jacob Sony George, Literature and Education, Karnataka
- Dr. Ramdas Madhava Pai, Literature and Education, Karnataka
- Shri Sankha Ghosh, Literature and Education, West Bengal
- Shri Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi alias Khayyam, Art – Cinema – Music, Maharashtra
- Shri Shashi Kapoor, Art – Cinema, Maharashtra
- Shri Krishen Khanna, Art – Painting, Haryana
- Shri Madavur Vasudevan Nair, Art – Dance – Kathakali, Kerala
- Ms. Waheeda Rehman, Art – Cinema, Maharashtra
- Shri Rudrapatna Krishna ShastrySrikantan, Art – Music-Vocal, Karnataka
- Ms. Arpita Singh, Art – Painting, Delhi
- Dr. Sripathi Panditharadhyula Balasubrahmanyam, Art – Playback Singing, Music Direction & acting, Tamil Nadu
- Shri C.V. Chandrasekhar, Art – Classical Dance-Bharatanatyam, Tamil Nadu
- Shri Dwijen Mukherjee, Art, West Bengal
