SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 25: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has received Padma Bhushan, Indian civilian award, for the year from India's consul general TV Nagendra Prasad in San Francisco, US. It is the third-highest civilian award in India after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan. He was among 17 awardees.

Satya Nadella discussed India’s potential to be a global political and technology leader during his meeting with Prasad last week.

He said, “We are living in a period of historic economic, societal and technological change. The next decade will be defined by digital technology. Indian industries and organisations of every size are turning to technology to help them do more with less, which will ultimately lead to greater innovation, agility and resilience".

Hyderabad-born Nadella, 55, joined Microsoft in 1992, and was named CEO of Microsoft in February 2014 and in June 2021 he was named the Microsoft chairman. He lives with family in Bellevue, a city in Washington State. He plans to visit India in January.

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai too was awarded Padma Bhushan. Both came under trade and industry category. The awards were announced on the eve of the Republic Day on January 26, 2022. Then Pichai had said he was humbled by it. "I am deeply grateful to the Padma Awards Committee, the President and Prime Minister, as well as the people of India for this honour. It’s made all the more meaningful to be among this esteemed group of individuals who have each had a profound impact on their fields and communities, and I am humbled to receive this award alongside them,” he had said.

Nadella had said, “It’s an honor to receive a Padma Bhushan award and to be recognised by so many extraordinary people. I'm thankful to the President, Prime Minister and the people of India and look forward to continuing to work with people across India to help them use technology to achieve more."