Indian American scientist and former Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Sethuraman Panchanathan, was conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, by President Droupadi Murmu at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held on May 27, 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

During the ceremony, President Murmu presented the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards for 2025. The event was attended by key dignitaries such as Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah.

For 2025, the President of India approved a total of 139 Padma Awards, including one duo case (counted as one award). The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honors. Among the awardees, 23 are women, 10 are from the Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI category, and 13 are posthumous recipients.

India’s official statement described Panchanathan as a computer scientist and engineer who served as the 15th Director of the NSF, a $9.5 billion U.S. federal agency solely dedicated to advancing all fields of scientific discovery, technological innovation, and STEM education.

Panchanathan was nominated to NSF by the President of the United States in 2019 and was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on June 18, 2020.

“He is a leader in science, engineering and education with more than three decades of experience,” the statement noted. “He has a distinguished career in both higher education and government, where he has designed and built knowledge enterprises, which advance research innovation, strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, global development and economic growth.”

The statement also highlighted Panchanathan’s appointment in 2018 by the Governor of Arizona as a senior advisor for science and technology. In 2014, he was appointed by the U.S. President to serve on the National Science Board, where he chaired the Committee on Strategy and Budget.

He has also served as chair of the Council on Research of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and co-chair of the Extreme Innovation Taskforce of the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils. Previously, Panchanathan held the role of Executive Vice President of the Arizona State University (ASU) Knowledge Enterprise and Chief Research and Innovation Officer. Under his leadership, ASU’s research performance increased fivefold, positioning it as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative research universities in the United States.

Ricky Kej Wins Padma Shri 

Renowned global music composer and three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej was also honored with the Padma Shri. A four-time Grammy nominee, Kej is celebrated for his contributions to global music.

According to the official statement, “Kej’s ground-breaking compositions fuse traditional Indian elements with contemporary global sounds, earning widespread critical acclaim and industry recognition.” The statement added that his innovative approach has cultivated a devoted international following, with his music featured at prestigious venues including global environmental summits and humanitarian events.

Related posts:

Indian Americans Among 2025 Padma Award Recipients: Honoring Global Achievements in Science, Innovation, and Leadership Trump-Appointed NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan Resigns After Five Years of Service Opinion: What we Should Learn From Nehru Grammy Winner Ricky Kej and Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi Announce New Album “Gandhi Hymns of Compassion”