The correct answer is (d) Japan.
The Padma Vibhushan is the second-highest civilian award in India, after the Bharat Ratna. It is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in any field. In 2021, the award was given to Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai for his contribution to space research.
Kanai was born in 1962 in Yokohama, Japan. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a degree in aerospace engineering in 1984. He then joined the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), where he worked on the development of the H-II rocket.
In 1996, Kanai was selected by JAXA to be an astronaut. He underwent two years of training in the United States and Russia. In 2004, he flew on his first space mission, STS-127, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Kanai’s second space mission was in 2010, when he flew on STS-134, also aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. During this mission, he performed two spacewalks to install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station.
Kanai is a highly respected astronaut who has made significant contributions to space research. He is a role model for young people around the world who aspire to explore space.
The other options are incorrect because they do not correspond to the person who received the Padma Vibhushan Award in 2021.
(a) China: The Padma Vibhushan Award was not given to anyone from China in 2021.
(b) England: The Padma Vibhushan Award was not given to anyone from England in 2021.
(c) Korea: The Padma Vibhushan Award was not given to anyone from Korea in 2021.