President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards 2026 during the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25, honouring 66 distinguished personalities for their contributions across arts, sports, literature, medicine, public affairs and social service.
Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Sharing moments from the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi described the occasion as one filled with “pride, gratitude and inspiration,” while highlighting the contributions of individuals whose work continues to shape the country’s collective journey.
This year, the government approved a total of 131 Padma Awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri honours. The remaining recipients will be felicitated during the second phase of the ceremony later this year.
Among the most emotional moments of the evening was legendary actor Dharmendra being honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan. His wife and BJP MP Hema Malini received the award on his behalf. Renowned violinist N. Rajam also received the Padma Vibhushan for her exceptional contribution to Indian classical music and for pioneering the “Gayaki Ang” violin style.
The Padma Bhushan honours were conferred on personalities including former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak, noted scholar R. Ganesh, and eminent gastroenterologist Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy. Advertising veteran Piyush Pandey and former MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra were honoured posthumously.
Several notable figures also received the Padma Shri, including actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, Indian women’s cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Paralympic gold medallist Praveen Kumar, martial arts expert K. Pajanivel, and folk musician Mir Haji Kasam, among others.
The Padma Awards are announced annually on the occasion of Republic Day and remain among India’s highest civilian honours, recognising exceptional service and achievement across diverse fields.
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