General Bipin Rawat, the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff who died in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu last month, and late BJP leader Kalyan Singh who served as UP chief minister at the time of the Babri Masjid demolition have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google's Sundar Pichai are among the 17 Padma Bhushan awardees this year. 

Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. 

The Padma honours are given for exceptional service in different fields - art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. 

Indian-American business executives - Nadella, 54, and Pichai, 49 - have been honoured for their contribution in the "trade and industry" category. 

General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff who died last month in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu along with his wife and 12 others, has been awarded Padma Vibhushan. 

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google's Sundar Pichai are among the 17 Padma Bhushan awardees this year. 

Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. 

The Padma honours are given for exceptional service in different fields - art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. 

General Bipin Rawat, India's first Chief of Defence Staff who died last month in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu along with his wife and 12 others, has been awarded Padma Vibhushan. 

The government revealed the name of the awardees a day before the Republic Day celebrations in line with the annual traditions.  

A total of 128 personalities are on this year's list of Padma honours. 

(With inputs from agencies)