A series of Indian civilian honours is given as Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan. Which award correctly completes this series?

Introduction / Context:
This question uses a simple series to test your understanding of the hierarchy of important Indian civilian honours. You are given a sequence of awards Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and asked to select the award that logically comes next in this ordered list.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The series lists Indian civilian honours in ascending order of prestige.
• The sequence given is Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan.
• You must choose which award should follow this pattern.
• The options include Bharat Ratna, Ashok Chakra, Sahitya Akademi Award, Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is to know the correct order of Indian civilian honours. Among civilian awards, Bharat Ratna is at the top, followed by Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. However, the series here is written from the lowest to the higher levels: Padma Shri (fourth), Padma Bhushan (third), Padma Vibhushan (second). The next level above Padma Vibhushan is Bharat Ratna, so Bharat Ratna completes the series.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the four major civilian awards of India: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.Step 2: Remember their order of precedence: 1. Bharat Ratna, 2. Padma Vibhushan, 3. Padma Bhushan, 4. Padma Shri.Step 3: Observe the series in the question: Padma Shri, then Padma Bhushan, then Padma Vibhushan. This sequence clearly climbs upwards in this list.Step 4: Since the award higher than Padma Vibhushan is Bharat Ratna, it is the next logical term in the series.Step 5: Choose Bharat Ratna as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify the hierarchy from any standard GK source that lists Indian awards and decorations. Official descriptions and exam oriented notes consistently introduce the civilian awards in this order of seniority. Confirming this order immediately shows that after Padma Vibhushan comes Bharat Ratna, and no other listed option fits that logical pattern.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Ashok Chakra: A peacetime military gallantry award, which belongs to a different category and does not fit into the civilian Padma awards series.
• Sahitya Akademi Award: A major literary award, but not a national civilian honour in the same hierarchy as the Padma awards.
• Arjuna Award: A sports award for outstanding performance in sports and games, again outside the civilian honours sequence.
• Padma Shri: This is the starting term of the series, the lowest among the Padma awards, and repeating it would break the ascending order pattern.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse the ranking of the Padma awards or think that Padma Vibhushan is the highest civilian award. Others mix civilian awards with military and sports awards. Remember that when the series clearly lists the three Padma awards in rising order, the only sensible continuation is Bharat Ratna, which is the country s highest civilian honour.

Final Answer:
Bharat Ratna is the award that logically completes the series Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, so option A is correct.