Padma Bhushan Award 1970

Theatre legend Sombhu Mitra, tabla maestro Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, sculptor Ramkinkar Baij, and Bharatanatyam dancer Kumari Kamala led 1970's 28 Padma Bhushan honorees. Telugu poet-scholar Viswanatha Satyanarayana and Bengali novelist Buddhadeb Bose represented literature, while geologist M. S. Krishnan featured in science. The list was dominated by literature, education, and the performing arts, with comparatively few civil servants or scientists, reflecting an emphasis on cultural figures. It preceded a sharp jump to 41 and then 50 recipients over the next two years.

The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex".