Padma Bhushan Award 1987

In 1987, 12 Padma Bhushan awards were conferred. Honorees included Hindustani classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar, Malayalam poet Nalapat Balamani Amma, aerospace scientist Roddam Narasimha, and physician Farokh Udwadia. Sitar maestro Nikhil Banerjee received his award posthumously that year. Senior civil servants Julio Ribeiro and Mohammad Yunus were also honored, alongside chemical engineer Man Mohan Sharma. The list leaned toward literature, arts and civil service, with no foreign nationals recognized that year, reflecting a relatively modest, India-focused batch compared to surrounding 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".