Honorable President of India Droupadi Murmu has conferred the Padma Awards 2026 to 66 distinguished personalities during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony on 25th May at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. This ceremony has recognized the outstanding contributions in art, sports, medicine, public affairs and industry.
What Happened at the Padma Awards 2026 Ceremony?
The first Civil Investiture Ceremony for Padma Awards 2026 was held on the May 25, 2026, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During the event, the President has presented awards to 66 eminent personalities, including the,
- 2 Padma Vibhushan
- 6 Padma Bhushan
- 58 Padma Shri
The ceremony has witnessed the presence of several top dignitaries including the,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and H. D. Kumaraswamy
The event has marked the first phase of the Padma Awards presentation for the year 2026.
Major Padma Vibhushan Recipients
The biggest highlight of the ceremony was the conferring of the Padma Vibhushan which is the India’s second-highest civilian award.
Late Actor Dharmendra
Legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra Singh Deol was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his extraordinary contribution to the Indian cinema and the arts.
This honour was received by his wife, actor and Member of Parliament Hema Malini.
He remains as one of the Indian cinema’s most iconic figures and was known for decades of impactful performances.
Dr N. Rajam Recognised
Renowned violin maestro Dr N. Rajam was also conferred with the Padma Vibhushan for her exceptional contribution to the Indian classical music.
Her recognition also highlights the continued national appreciation for the India’s cultural heritage.
Key Padma Bhushan Awardees
Multiple distinguished personalities were honored with the Padma Bhushan which is India’s third-highest civilian award.
Notable recipients includes the,
- Bhagat Singh Koshyari – Public Affairs
- Dr R Ganesh – Art
- Uday Suresh Kumar Kotak – Trade and Industry
- Dr Kallipatti Ramasamy Palanisamy – Medicine
These awards recognize the long-term excellence and national-level service to the nation.
Padma Shri Winners
The Padma Shri which is the India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, was awarded to the total 58 personalities during the 1st phase.
A major highlight was the Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team received the recognition for her achievements in sports.
Other notable recipients included,
- Taga Ram Bheel – Art
- Ratilal Mohanlal Borisagar
- Swami Brahmdev
- Kumar Bose
The diversity of the awardees showcases the India’s broad recognition of talent across sectors.
What Are the Padma Awards?
The Padma Awards are the India’s most prestigious civilian honors.
They are announced annually on the eve of the Republic Day and it recognize the exceptional service in fields such as,
- Art
- Literature and education
- Sports
- Medicine
- Science and engineering
- Public affairs
- Social work
- Civil service
- Trade and industry
These awards are divided into the three categories,
- Padma Vibhushan – Exceptional and the distinguished service
- Padma Bhushan – Distinguished service of high order
- Padma Shri – Distinguished service in any field
Total Padma Awards for 2026
For the 2026 President has approved a total of 131 awards Padma which includes,
- Padma Vibhushan – 5
- Padma Bhushan – 13
- Padma Shri – 113
- Total -131
As on 25th May only 66 awards were presented in the first ceremony, the remaining honors will be conferred during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony later in 2026.
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