New Delhi, Jan. 26 -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is among 119 recipients whom the government on Monday selected for Padma awards-one of the highest civilian awards in the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday announced the awards that include seven Padma Vibhushan awards, 10 Padma Bhushan awards and 102 Padma Shri awards.

The Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award, has been conferred on Japan's longest-serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the public affairs category. Tamil Nadu's veteran musician and playback singer S.P. Balasubramaniam also got the honour, albeit posthumously.

Indian-American physicist Narinder Singh Kapany, best known for his work on fibre optics, has also been awarded t...