Padma Bhushan conferred on Krishna Ella, Suchitra Ella

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Padma  Bushan award on Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella and Joint MD Suchitra Ella at a civil investiture ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan of Delhi on Monday. The Padma Awards ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday for the second time. 

Bharat Biotech has led the country towards becoming self-sufficient in Covid-19 vaccine production and the pharmaceutical firm owned by the Ellas has the achievement of creating Covaxin, country's first indigenous Covid-19 vaccine.  Notably, the vaccine makers have made the essential jabs available at the lowest possible price in the world.

Dr Krishna Ella began his career by joining the pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer as part of its agricultural division. Later, he left for the United States to pursue higher studies and returned to set up a small lab in Hyderabad in 1996, naming it Bharat Biotech.

Meanwhile, the Padma Vibhushan award was announced for the late BJP leader and former Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh was received by the late leader's son. The  Padma Awards were also presented at the ceremony to others, who have excelled in various fields.