The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is considering recommending the name of late singer Manna Dey for Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award.
The Ministry, which is required to make recommendations for the Padma awards to the Home Ministry, had asked the various units under it to give suitable names, sources said.
They added that one of the names suggested was that of the legendary singer who died last month.
"Normally, the Padma awards are not given posthumously but exceptions can be made, especially in highly-deserving cases if the demise of the person proposed to be honoured has been recent," a source said.
Dey had already been a recipient of the Padma Shree and the Padma Bhushan awards.
Apart from Dey's name, the I&B Ministry is considering the names of several other eminent persons for the Padma awards.
Sources said among the names that had been suggested by the Directorate of Film Festivals for the Padma Bhushan awards were those of noted actors Manoj Kumar, Zeenat Aman, Mammooty and Kamal Haasan, which are being considered by the Ministry for recommendation.
