Any Indian can now recommend any achiever for the prestigious Padma Awards, with the government throwing open the nomination process to general public to make it transparent and curb the crony culture of influence and lobbying.

The nominations can be made online but the nominators would be required to furnish their Aadhaar details for authenticity and accountability.

A Union Home Ministry spokesperson said, for the first time, the government of India is encouraging the people to nominate achievers for the Padma Awards. He said it is a step towards transforming the national awards into a truly people's award which will no longer remain restricted to elite rulers.

He said opening up of the nomination process to the general public will also help in identifying unsung or lesser known people of excellence.

The government has already received over 1,700 nominations and the last date of nomination is September15.

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