- This award was first started on 2 January, 1954. This award ranks after the bharat ratna award and ranks higher than padma bhushan and padma shri.
- Padma Vibhushan award is awarded by president of India.
- The first recipitants of this award were Satyendranath Bose, Nandlal Bose, Zakir Hussain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, V. K. Krishna Menon.
- Padma Vibhushan consists a medal and a citation. The medal has a lotus flower in the centre and "Padma vibhushan" written below the flower.
- Till 2012, 288 people were awarded by this honour.