Padma Awards 2026: 66 Honours Conferred In First Investiture Ceremony

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Awards on several eminent personalities on Monday at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony acknowledged their remarkable contributions in areas such as arts, cinema, music, and public service.

Among the leading recipients, Dharmendra was posthumously honoured with the Padma Vibhushan for his outstanding work in the field of arts. His wife and Member of Parliament, Hema Malini, accepted the award on his behalf.

Celebrated violinist N Rajam was also presented with the Padma Vibhushan during the investiture ceremony.

Former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and prominent banker Uday Kotak were awarded the Padma Bhushan for their distinguished service in their respective domains.

This year, the Government declared 131 Padma Awards in total. These consist of 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honours. The list includes 19 women recipients, while 16 awards have been conferred posthumously.

In the first phase of the civil investiture ceremony, 66 awards were presented. This included 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri honours.

The remaining awards will be distributed in a subsequent ceremony, the schedule for which will be announced at a later stage.

Introduced in 1954, the Padma Awards rank among the country’s highest civilian honours. They are announced each year on the occasion of Republic Day.

These honours celebrate exceptional achievements and service across a wide range of disciplines, including arts, literature, education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, and trade and industry.

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