President Droupadi Murmu Awards 66 Padma Honours in New Delhi

On 25 May 2026, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma awards during a Civil Investiture Ceremony-I at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The ceremony honoured distinguished individuals for their exceptional contributions across various fields. Among the attendees were Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

This year, the President approved a total of 131 Padma awards, which included five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. These accolades are traditionally announced on Republic Day each year.

During the ceremony, two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri awards were distributed. The posthumous Padma Vibhushan was awarded to renowned Bollywood actor Dharmendra, received by his wife and Member of Parliament Hema Malini. Violin virtuoso N. Rajam also received the Padma Vibhushan for her extraordinary contributions to music.

N. Rajam is celebrated for her revolutionary approach to classical music, particularly through her technique known as “Gayaki Ang,” which enables the violin to mimic human vocal expressions, thereby earning her recognition as the “Singing Violin.”

The Padma Bhushan awards went to notable figures such as former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Shatavadhani R. Ganesh, who is credited with reviving the classical art form of “Avadhana,” Uday Suresh Kumar Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, and eminent gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy. The award was also conferred posthumously on former MP Vijay Kumar Malhotra and advertising industry leader Piyush Pandey.

The remaining Padma award recipients will be honoured in a second segment of the ceremony to be held later. Among the 58 Padma Shri recipients were Prosenjit Chatterjee, an influential figure in Indian cinema; Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar, a prominent name in Indian women’s cricket; and para athlete Praveen Kumar.

Additionally, K. Vijay Kumar, former Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), folk musician Mir Haji Kasam, Tamil devotional music artist N. Swaminathan, and traditional folk music artist Taga Ram Bheel were also recognised with Padma Shri awards.

Silambam expert K. Pajanivel received recognition for his promotion of the ancient Tamil martial art, while Baldev Singh, a distinguished hockey coach, was honoured for his extensive contributions to Indian hockey over the past four decades.

Other Padma Shri awardees included Tripti Mukherjee, known for her expertise in “Kantha” embroidery; social worker Janardan Bapurao Bothe; and the husband-wife duo Dr. Ramchandra Godbole and Suneeta Godbole, who provided healthcare support to tribal communities. Environmentalists Devaki Amma G. and Hally War, bibliophile Ankegowda M., Sanskrit scholar Vempaty Kutumba Shastry, and botanist Gambir Singh Yonzone were also among those receiving accolades.

This year's awards reflect a broad spectrum of contributions to society, celebrating achievements across arts, education, sports, and environmental conservation.