The highest civilian honour received by Indian actor Anupam Kher from the Government of India is which of the following awards?

Introduction / Context:
India confers several civilian honours to recognise contributions in various fields such as arts, literature, science, and public service. From highest to lower order, the main civilian awards are Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. This question asks about the highest civilian honour actually received by veteran actor Anupam Kher, a well known figure in Indian and international cinema. Knowing which award he has received is part of standard honours and awards general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question focuses on Anupam Kher, a famous Indian film and theatre actor.
- Options include Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Bharat Ratna, and National Film Award.
- We assume awareness of the hierarchy and typical recipients of the Padma awards.

Concept / Approach:
The Padma system of awards is structured in a clear hierarchy. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award, followed by Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Anupam Kher has received Padma Shri as well as Padma Bhushan for his contribution to cinema and arts. Among the given options, Padma Bhushan is therefore the highest civilian honour that he holds. Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan are higher in theory, but they have not been conferred on him, which is what makes this a factual recall question rather than a simple hierarchy question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the four main civilian awards of India and their order.
Step 2: Identify which of these have been given to Anupam Kher.
Step 3: Remember that he has received Padma Shri and later Padma Bhushan, but not Padma Vibhushan or Bharat Ratna.
Step 4: Among the awards he holds, determine which one is the highest in ranking.
Step 5: Conclude that Padma Bhushan is the correct answer because it outranks Padma Shri and is actually associated with him.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical notes on Anupam Kher in exam books and articles usually mention that he received the Padma Shri in the early phase of his career and was later honoured with the Padma Bhushan. No authentic source lists him as a Padma Vibhushan or Bharat Ratna recipient. Cross checking such standard references confirms that Padma Bhushan is the highest civilian honour he has received.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Padma Shri has been awarded to Anupam Kher, but it is lower in rank than Padma Bhushan, so it is not the highest honour he holds.
Padma Vibhushan is higher than Padma Bhushan but has not been conferred upon him, so choosing it would be incorrect as a factual statement.

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India but Anupam Kher has not received it, so it does not answer the question as framed.

National Film Award refers to a separate set of honours for specific film performances and technical categories and is not a civilian order of merit comparable to Padma awards.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates misread the question and focus only on the hierarchy, selecting Bharat Ratna or Padma Vibhushan as if the question asked which is highest in general. The stem specifically asks for the highest civilian honour actually received by Anupam Kher. It is important to read carefully and distinguish between awards he could in theory receive and awards he has in fact received.

Final Answer:
The highest civilian honour received by Anupam Kher is the Padma Bhushan.