India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, on December 3, 2022, handed over Padma Bhushan to Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai in San Francisco. The government has also awarded Padma Bhushan to CEP of Microsoft Satya Nadella Padma Bhushan, India’s thirdhighest civilian award, has been awarded to Pichai in the Trade and Industry category. The Madurai-born Pichai was named one of the 17 awardees earlier this year. After receiving the award, Sundar Pichai said in a blog, “I want to thank Ambassador Sandhu and Consul General Prasad for hosting me to receive the Padma Bhushan. I am deeply grateful to the Indian government and the people of India for this immense honour. It is incredibly meaningful to be honoured in this way by the country that shaped me.” He added, “India is a part of me. I carry it with me wherever I go. (Unlike this beautiful award, which I will keep somewhere safe.).” Earlier this year, Google added 24 new languages to Google Translate using a further advancement in machine learning. Eight of them are languages native to India. It means so much to see how people can access information and knowledge in their preferred language and see the world open up to them in new ways. Google recently announced that it would be investing $10 billion in India’s digital future, working to enable more affordable internet access, building products for India’s unique needs, helping businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation, and using AI to tackle big societal challenges.

He stated that Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India vision had accelerated that progress. Google continues to invest in India, partnering with governments, businesses and communities over two transformative decades. In his blog, Pichai said he was fortunate to grow up in a family that cherished learning and knowledge, with parents who sacrificed a lot to ensure he had opportunities to explore his interests. “Every new technology that arrived at our doorstep made our lives better. And that experience put me on a path to Google and the chance to help build technology that improves people’s lives worldwide,” he said. Google is also investing deeply in digital skilling and has trained over one million women through our WomenWill Entrepreneurship Program and over 55,000 teachers in partnership with the government and local organizations. It has also sponsored over 100,000 Google Career Certificate sponsorships in collaboration with the NASSCOM Foundation and Tata Strive. He pointed out a great opportunity ahead for India in its position as the leader of the G20. It’s an amazing opportunity to build consensus on strengthening the global economy by advancing an open internet, connected, secure, and works for everyone.