Padma Awards 2026: President if India Confers Honours
NEW DELHI — The historic halls of Rashtrapati Bhavan glowed with pride on Monday as President Droupadi Murmu presented the first round of the Padma Awards 2026. Flanked by top state dignitaries—including Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah—the President conferred two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri awards during the first phase of the civil investiture.
For the year 2026, the President approved a total of 131 civilian honours, which were originally announced on the eve of Republic Day. The remaining laureates are scheduled to be decorated in an upcoming second-round ceremony.
The Highest Honours: Padma Vibhushan
Two legendary figures of Indian art and culture were bestowed with the country’s second-highest civilian honour on Monday:
- Dharmendra (Posthumous): The iconic, powerhouse actor of Indian cinema was honoured posthumously for his towering, decades-long contribution to film. The award was gracefully received by his wife, actor and Member of Parliament Hema Malini.
- Dr. N. Rajam: The legendary classical violin virtuoso was celebrated for her path-breaking musical legacy. Dr. Rajam globally revolutionized classical instrumentation by introducing “Gayaki Ang”—a brilliant technical approach that allows the violin to replicate the exact depth, emotional nuances, and modulations of the human singing voice, earning her the title of India’s “Singing Violin.”
Prominent Padma Bhushan Recipients
Six eminent personalities were decorated with the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, including notable posthumous recognitions:
| Recipient | Domain / Field | Key Contribution |
| Bhagat Singh Koshyari | Public Affairs | Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and veteran statesman. |
| Shatavadhani R. Ganesh | Art & Literature | Renowned scholar who single-handedly revived the ancient, complex classical art form of “Avadhana” (impromptu poetic composition). |
| Uday Suresh Kumar Kotak | Trade & Industry | Visionary banking captain and billionaire founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank. |
| Dr. K. R. Palaniswamy | Medicine | Eminent gastroenterologist recognized for trailblazing work in medical science. |
| Vijay Kumar Malhotra (Posthumous) | Public Affairs | Former Member of Parliament and veteran political administrator. |
| Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) | Industry / Art | Revered as India’s “ad guru” and the creative force behind modern Indian advertising. |
Celebrating the Grassroots: The Padma Shri Achievements
The President also distributed 58 Padma Shri awards, recognizing a beautifully diverse cross-section of heroes spanning cinema, sports, environmentalism, and grassroots social work.
- Cinema & Sports: Super star Prosenjit Chatterjee, an undisputed titan of Indian regional cinema, was decorated alongside Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar, the inspirational captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, and decorated para-athlete Praveen Kumar.
- Public Service & Arts: Former CRPF Director-General K. Vijay Kumar was recognized for his long, distinguished security career. Cultural preservationists included Silambam martial arts master K. Pajanivel (Tamil Nadu), veteran hockey coach Baldev Singh (over 40 years of service), and Kantha embroidery virtuoso Tripti Mukherjee.
- Tribal Health & Environment: The husband-wife medical duo of Dr. Ramchandra Godbole and Suneeta Godbole were celebrated for providing lifelines of healthcare and social support to remote tribal communities. Environmentalists Devaki Amma G. and Hally War were also recognized for their lifelong green crusades.
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in India. Instituted in 1954, they are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day (January 26) and are presented by the President of India at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March or April.
The awards aim to recognize exceptional achievements, lifetime dedication, and distinguished service across all fields or disciplines where an element of public service is involved—including Art, Social Work, Public Affairs, Science & Engineering, Trade & Industry, Medicine, Literature & Education, Civil Services, and Sports.