On the eve of Republic Day,  government of India has announced the list for the Padma Awards 2016 and it seems girl power gets prominence on the list.

Internationally acclaimed actress Priyanka Chopra will be awarded this year with Padma Shri, where as tennis queen Sania Mirza and badminton queen Saina Nehwal will be conferred with Padma Bhushan.

Ace dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and legendary classical singer Girija Devi will be honoured with Padma Vibhushan this year.

Rajnikanth’s daughter and famous filmmaker Aishwaryya R. Dhanush took to Twitter to bow down to the girl power, saying, “Congratulating @MirzaSania on her padma award ! #girlpower” “Big congratulations on your padma award @priyankachopra #girlpower,” she tweeted. “Many congratulations on your padma award @NSaina .super duper proud of you my friend !!!”

Priyanka Chopra has been named for the Padma Shri Award, India’s fourth highest civilian honour and the news was broken to her by her mother Madhu Chopra in Montreal and she felt extremely special as her hard work paid off.

Daughter of an Indian Army officer’s Priyanka Chopra said, “What a fabulous January to begin my year with,” Priyanka told a leading daily from India. She is in Montreal to fulfil her shooting commitments for American TV show ‘Quantico’.

“Being awarded the Padma Shri from the Government of India is a great honour and I am humbled to receive it. I am the daughter of Indian Defence Services,  the child of 2 army officers, which makes this so much more special to me. I know that this Award would have made my father very proud of me. My congratulations to the other awardees of this year. I am privileged to be a part of such an illustrious list of achievers,” Priyanka told a leading daily from India.

Her father, the late Lt. Col. Ashok Chopra was a retired doctor of the Indian Army in 1997. Priyanka was extremely close to him and even tattooed ‘Daddy’s lil girl’ on her wrist.

Priyanka was glad that her mother Madhu Chopra woke her up with the news of the Padma Shri in Montreal.

“I am so happy. My mother woke me up with this wonderful news, and we’ve had a little celebration here,” said the National Award winning actress. Earlier this month, Priyanka Chopra won the best actress award at People’s Choice Award for ‘Quantico’.

Priyanka congratulates her fellow counterparts who have received the civilian honour. She stated, “My congratulations to the other awardees of this year! I am privileged to be a part of such an illustrious list of achievers. To be a part of this century-old Indian Cinema, for more than a decade has been a fantastic journey. I have grown not only as an actor but also as an individual. I share this honour with all my co-stars, directors, technicians and everyone who has been part of this journey with me.”

“There is so much I have to be grateful for and I have strived to give back in any way that I can.  I will continue my efforts to bring pride to my country wherever I am and in the best possible way,” she further added.

Noted actor Anupam Kher, singer Udit Narayan, former CAG Vinod Rai, chairperson of media group Bennett, Coleman & Co Indu Jain, sports star Sania Mirza and Saina Nehwal, spiritual leaders late Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Tejomayananda and former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill are among the 19 eminent personalities named for the Padma Bhushan.