President Murmu to confer Padma Awards 2026 today
New Delhi, June 23
President Droupadi Murmu will present Padma Awards for 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Tuesday, with former Union Minister Shibu Soren, Tennis star Vijay Amritraj, actor Mammootty and singer Alka Yagnik figuring among the 65 awardees.
Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers and other dignitaries will also attend the ceremony that will begin at 5 p.m.
In the Second Civil Investiture Ceremony, the President will confer 65 Padma Awards, including two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan and 56 Padma Shri.
President Murmu had conferred 65 Padma Awards, including two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan and 57 Padma Shri in the First Civil Investiture Ceremony held on May 25.
Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in various disciplines/fields of activities, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.
'Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; 'Padma Bhushan' for distinguished service of high order and 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
While former Union Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren has been selected for a posthumous Padma Bhushan, P. Narayanan and Justice (retd.) K.T. Thomas will be awarded Padma Vibhushan for Literature and Education and Public Affairs, respectively.
Other awardees include the Padma Bhushan awardees include: Vijay Amritraj, S.K.M. Maeilanandhan, Mammootty, Vellappally Natesan, Dattatreyudu Nori and Alka Yagnik.
The list of awardees includes two Americans, a Russian and a Georgian citizen.
Doctor Dattatreyudu Nori of the US will be awarded Padma Bhushan in field of Medicine. Professor Prateek Sharma will be awarded Padma Shri for Medicine.
Russia's Liudmila Khokhlova has been picked for Padma Shri in Literature and Education.
Vladimer Mestvirishvili of Georgia will be posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for Sports.
Professor Mahendra Nath Roy from West Bengal has been picked for a Padma Shri in the field of Science and Engineering, a statement said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Nice to see posthumous recognition for Shibu Soren ji. He was a giant in Jharkhand politics and tribal rights. But I wish the system was more transparent in how nominations are made. Too many deserving grassroots workers still get overlooked while some politically connected names get in every year. 😕
Vijay Amritraj getting Padma Bhushan is so well deserved! He put Indian tennis on the world map long before the current generation. 🎾 His work in peace and sports diplomacy is also commendable. Good decision by the government.
Excellent to see international names too! Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori (US), Prof. Prateek Sharma, Liudmila Khokhlova from Russia, and the Georgian sportsman Mestvirishvili getting Padma Shri. Shows India values global friendships and contributions to various fields. 🌍
While I'm happy for the awardees, I feel there should be more women and young achievers in the Padma Shri list. Alka Yagnik is amazing, but only 1-2 women in each category seems low. Also, why so many from film and politics? What about scientists, teachers, and small-town innovators who work silently? 🤔
I'm an American but I follow Indian news often. Great to see India honoring global contributors like my countryman Dr. Nori and Russian scholar Khokhlova. The Padma awards really do recognize excellence across borders. Much respect to the selection committee! 🫡
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