Padma Awards 2026: President Murmu Confers 66 Honours at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Droupadi Murmu conferred 66 Padma Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25. Dharmendra, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Uday Kotak among top honourees.
India celebrated some of its finest achievers this week. President Droupadi Murmu conferred 66 Padma Awards 2026 on May 25. The ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. It took place at the Ganatantra Mandap in the evening.
The event brought together stars, scientists, doctors, artists, and sports icons. Each awardee represented a different side of India’s rich national life.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Home Minister Amit Shah were among those present. Senior cabinet ministers and other dignitaries also attended.
This was only the first of two rounds. The remaining 65 awardees will be honoured at a second ceremony to be held later. Padma Awards 2026
Padma Awards 2026: Who Was Honoured
Padma Vibhushan — The Highest Honour of the Evening
Two Padma Vibhushan awards were given at this ceremony. This is India’s second-highest civilian honour.
Dharmendra received the award posthumously. He passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89. His wife and veteran actress Hema Malini accepted the award on his behalf. The moment was deeply emotional. Social media posts described her as visibly moved as she walked up to receive the honour.
Dharmendra was widely known as the “He-Man of Bollywood.” He acted in over 300 films. His impact on Indian cinema spanned more than five decades.
N. Rajam, a celebrated Hindustani classical violinist, also received the Padma Vibhushan. She has spent a lifetime keeping Indian classical music alive. Her recognition was widely praised by the arts community.
Padma Bhushan — Honour for Distinguished Service
Six Padma Bhushan awards were conferred at Ceremony-I. Here is a quick look at the recipients:
- Bhagat Singh Koshyari — Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. Honoured under Public Affairs.
- Shatavadhani R. Ganesh — A rare polymath. He revived the ancient Indian art form called Avadhana. Honoured under Art.
- Uday Suresh Kumar Kotak — Founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank. Honoured under Trade and Industry.
- Dr. Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy — A leading gastroenterologist from Tamil Nadu. Honoured under Medicine.
- Alka Yagnik — One of India’s most beloved playback singers. She is the only woman to receive the Padma Bhushan this year. Honoured under Art.
- Mammootty — A legend of Malayalam cinema. He has delivered over 400 films in a career spanning four decades. Honoured under Art.
Padma Shri — Recognising Excellence Across Fields
Fifty-eight Padma Shri awards were presented on the evening. The list covered sports, arts, medicine, education, science, and social work. Padma Awards 2026
Some of the most talked-about recipients included:
In Sports:
- Harmanpreet Kaur — Captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. She led India to its first Women’s Cricket World Cup title.
- Rohit Sharma — Former captain of the Indian men’s cricket team. One of India’s most successful batters.
- Savita Punia — India’s star women’s hockey goalkeeper.
- Praveen Kumar — A rising name in Indian athletics.
- Vijay Amritraj — Tennis legend, honoured under the Sports category.
In Arts and Entertainment:
- Prosenjit Chatterjee — A hugely popular actor in Bengali cinema.
- Satish Shah — Veteran comic actor, honoured posthumously.
- Piyush Pandey — Legendary advertising creative, honoured posthumously. He transformed how Indian brands told their stories.
In Literature and Education:
- Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar — Former UGC Chairman and JNU Vice-Chancellor.
In Science and Defence:
- Satyanarayan Nuwal — Chairman of Solar Group. Recognised for contributions to India’s defence manufacturing sector.
- K. Pajanivel — Honoured for preserving traditional martial arts.
In Social Work:
- Dr. Ramchandra Godbole and Suneeta Godbole — A husband-wife doctor duo. They moved to Bastar, Chhattisgarh in 1990. For over 30 years, they served communities in Naxal-affected and remote tribal areas. Their story was one of the most moving of the evening.
Padma Awards 2026 in Numbers
Here is a quick snapshot of this year’s full awards list.
A total of 131 Padma Awards were approved for 2026. This includes five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Of the total, 16 were conferred posthumously. Nineteen recipients are women. Six are foreign nationals or NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs. At the first ceremony on May 25, 66 were honoured.
Among the five Padma Vibhushan recipients, two were conferred posthumously. They are Dharmendra and V.S. Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister of Kerala. Former Supreme Court judge K.T. Thomas received the award under Public Affairs. Veteran journalist and writer P. Narayanan was also among the five.
Padma Awards 2026: Why This Year’s Ceremony Stands Out
The Padma Awards 2026 were notable for several reasons. Padma Awards 2026
Emotional moments. The posthumous recognition of Dharmendra was the defining image of the evening. A giant of Indian cinema, honoured in his absence, with his widow stepping forward in his place. It moved many in the audience and millions watching online.
Strong sports representation. Two of India’s biggest cricket names — Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur — were recognised together. This reflects growing national acknowledgement of sportspersons at the highest levels of civilian honour.
Grassroots heroes included. The Godbole couple from Bastar stood out in a list filled with celebrities. Their decades of quiet service in one of India’s most difficult regions got the national spotlight it deserved.
International reach. Several foreign nationals received awards this year. They came from Russia, Germany, and the United States. This shows how the Padma Awards recognise India’s global cultural footprint.
Diverse fields covered. From a missile scientist to a folk musician. From a banker to a tribal artist. The awards touched nearly every corner of Indian society.
Padma Awards 2026: A Tradition That Began in 1954
The Padma Awards are not a new creation. They have been part of India’s national identity for over 70 years.
The government first instituted the Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan in 1954. The Padma Vibhushan originally had three classes. They were later renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
The three categories work as follows. Padma Vibhushan is given for exceptional and distinguished service. Padma Bhushan is for distinguished service of a high order. Padma Shri is for distinguished service in any field of activity.
Awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. A committee set up by the Prime Minister reviews nominations and submits recommendations. The President gives final approval.
Anyone can nominate. Even self-nominations are allowed. This makes the process more open than most people realise.
One important rule: the award is not a title. It cannot be added before or after a person’s name. It is purely a mark of national respect.
Last year, in 2025, the government announced 139 Padma Awards. That included seven Padma Vibhushan and 19 Padma Bhushan. This year’s total of 131 is slightly smaller, suggesting a more selective approach at the higher tiers.
Padma Awards 2026: Conclusion
The Padma Awards 2026 ceremony on May 25 was a celebration of India in all its variety.
Bollywood legends and tribal musicians. Cricket captains and grassroots doctors. Bankers and missile scientists. Classical violinists and advertising visionaries.
All of them were honoured on the same stage, on the same evening, under the same national recognition.
With 65 more awardees still to be honoured at the second ceremony, the full picture of the Padma Awards 2026 is not yet complete. But what the first ceremony made clear is this — India’s idea of excellence is wide, generous, and deeply human.
