Padma, India News

DEVDA, India - As the only girl in her noisy classroom of 22 boys, Padma Kanwar Bhatti is one defiant symbol of the toll exacted by India's deadly preference for male children.

Just when announcement of this year's Padma awards appeared to have passed off without a controversy, here comes a goof-up. Sunil Janah, a well-known photographer of the Nehruvian era who was awarded the Padma Shri this year, was a recipient of the same honour exactly four decades ago.

Tata Steel Vice-President B Muthuraman, Subbiah Murugappa Vellayan of the Murugappa group and Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, Priya Paul are among seven people selected for this year's Padma Awards in the trade and industry category.

A cattle trader, allegedly picked up by Indian Border Security Force on January 4, was found dead in the Padma on Tuesday.

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yong-Boon Yeo - named for a Padma Bhushan award Wednesday - is helping set up an international university in Bihar's Nalanda.

President Pratibha Patil has approved the conferment of Padma Awards 2012. This year the president has approved 109 awards including one duo case and 14 in the category of foreigners/non-resident Indians/ Persons of India Origin/ posthumous.