President Murmu Confers Padma Awards 2026, Honours Eminent Personalities Across Fields

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred the Padma Awards 2026 during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at the Ganatantra Mandap of Rashtrapati Bhavan , honouring eminent personalities from diverse fields including arts, cinema, sports, literature, social service and public affairs .

A total of 65 Padma Awards were presented in this phase, comprising two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan and 56 Padma Shri awards , in the presence of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan , Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Home Minister Amit Shah .

Among the highest honours, former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd.) K. T. Thomas and veteran Malayalam journalist P. Narayanan were conferred the Padma Vibhushan for their contributions to public affairs, judiciary, literature and journalism .

The Padma Bhushan was awarded to several eminent personalities, including playback singer Alka Yagnik , legendary actor Mammootty , tennis icon Vijay Amritraj , industrialist S.K.M. Maeilanandhan , social leader Vellappally Natesan , and US-based oncologist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori , recognising their distinguished service across arts, medicine, sports and social work .

In the Padma Shri category, Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma , who led India to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title , and hockey player Savita Punia were among the prominent sportspersons honoured.

Veteran actor Satish Shah was conferred the Padma Shri posthumously for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema and television , with his brother receiving the award on his behalf. Known for his iconic performances in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro , Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai , Shah was widely admired for his legacy in Indian entertainment.

A major highlight from the Telugu states was veteran actor Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad , who received the Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema, particularly Telugu films , marking recognition of his long-standing career in the industry.

The ceremony also witnessed several inspiring moments. Eighty-three-year-old folk artist Guru Sangyusang Pongener from Nagaland, dressed in traditional attire, received the Padma Shri and drew applause from dignitaries including Prime Minister Modi. Social worker Budhri Tati , known for her work in education and women’s empowerment in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, was also honoured.

Other Padma Shri recipients included former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati , aerospace scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu , who contributed to the Akash missile system development and deployment , entrepreneur Ashok Khade , author Asok Kumar Haldar , and Carnatic music duo Ranjani and Gayatri . Actor Anil Kumar Rastogi and chemistry professor Mahendra Nath Roy were also among the awardees.

The government had earlier announced 131 Padma Awards 2026 , with honours distributed across two phases of investiture ceremonies held on May 25 and June 23 .

The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories Padma Vibhushan (exceptional service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of high order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service in any field) recognising excellence across arts, science, sports, public affairs and social service .

The ceremony highlighted India’s diverse talent pool and the contributions of individuals who have significantly shaped the nation’s cultural, scientific and social landscape .