Solar Group's Satyanarayan Nuwal on Padma Shri: "A Matter of Pride"

His company manufactures defence products, including the 'Nagastra,' India's first indigenous loitering munition, used in Operation Sindoor.

The company also produces Pinaka rockets, Rudrastra drones, and the counter-drone system Bhargavastra.

Speaking with ANI, Satyanarayan Nuwal thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing the honour.

"This is not just a matter of pride and honour for me, but for our entire family and the 15 thousand people who work in our company, whose dedication, discipline, and hard work have made this possible. I am deeply grateful to the Prime Minister, under whose guidance and leadership the Government of India has bestowed this award," he said.

Nuwal further emphasised the scope of innovation in the field of defence as technology keeps on evolving.

"As technology is changing and as more advanced unmanned aerial systems are developed, we have already provided some, but there are many variants. There are so many possibilities that you can use them in different ways, whether it's range, altitude, lethality, or artificial intelligence. There is so much scope in this field that you always have to keep innovating," he said.

Additionally, Prem Lal Gautam, a renowned agricultural scientist, was also conferred with the Padma Shri for his significant work in the field of science and technology.

Speaking with ANI, he said, "I have been awarded for my contribution in the field of science and technology, agriculture sub-group. Presently, I am Vice Chancellor at Central Agricultural University in Bihar. This generation should come forth to help the government eradicate drug abuse. This generation should always try to use their energy to used their energy to become successful."

Former HOD of Pulmonary Medicine at King George's Medical University (KGMU), Dr Rajendra Prasad, was also honoured with the Padma Shri award.

"My father was a businessman, and I wanted to continue in the same business. But my father never wanted us to do that business, and he rather insisted that I study, that I get a good education, and that I become a doctor. That was his wish, for me to become a doctor. I did my MD, and then I was a faculty member here. I was the head of the Pulmonary Medicine department for 15 years. My ultimate destination was the Patel Chest Institute, which is the largest chest institute in the country, and I became its director," he told ANI.

Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award of the country.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday approved the conferment of 131 Padma awards, including two duo cases counted as single awards, and Bollywood actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan as recipients of the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri awards, recognising distinguished service across a wide range of fields. 90 awardees are wome,n and the list includes 6 persons from the categories of foreigners, NRI, PIO, and OCI, and 16 posthumous awardees, according to a government statement.

The Padma Vibhushan awardees include actor Dharmendra Singh Deol (posthumous) for Art from Maharashtra; former Supreme Court judge KT Thomas for Public Affairs from Kerala; violin maestro N Rajam for Art from Uttar Pradesh; eminent Malyalam journalist P Narayanan for Literature and Education from Kerala; as well as veteran left leader and former Kerala CM Achuthanandan (posthumous) for Public Affairs.

- ANI