In a spectacular ceremony echoing with national pride, President Droupadi Murmu presented the first batch of the Padma Awards 2026 today at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The solemn civil investiture ceremony was attended by top dignitaries, including Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

For the year 2026, the President approved a total of 131 Padma Awards, consisting of 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Today’s first round saw 66 recipients being honored, while the remaining awardees will receive their medals in a second ceremony scheduled for later this month.

The Breakdown of the 2026 Honors

The 2026 roster honors diversity and excellence, heavily emphasizing the inclusion of grassroot pioneers alongside global megastars.

• Total Awards Approved: 131 (including 2 duo cases)
• Women Awardees: 19
• Posthumous Honors: 16
• Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI: 6

Major Highlights from Today’s Investiture Ceremony

1. A Tearful Tribute to Late Legend Dharmendra

In an emotionally charged moment that touched everyone present, the Padma Vibhushan (India’s second-highest civilian honor) was posthumously conferred upon the legendary “He-Man” of Indian cinema, Dharmendra Singh Deol, for his extraordinary contribution to the arts. A visibly emotional Hema Malini, Member of Parliament and wife of the late actor, received the award on his behalf from President Murmu.

2. Sporting Royalty Takes Center Stage

The sports contingent dominated the limelight this year. Modern cricketing legend and India’s captain Rohit Sharma was conferred with the Padma Shri for his monumental contributions to Indian cricket, alongside Indian women’s cricket icon Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar. Paralympic gold medalist Praveen Kumar also received his well-deserved Padma Shri to thunderous applause.

3. Celebrating Icons of Art & Business

Melody queen Alka Yagnik and Malayalam cinema veteran Mammootty were among the marquee names honored with the Padma Bhushan. From the corporate world, veteran banker Uday Kotak was recognized for his transformative role in the Indian trade and industry sector, while advertising titan, the late Piyush Pandey, was posthumously honored.

Padma Awards 2026: Key Recipients in Focus

Padma Vibhushan (5 Winners Total)

Prominent Padma Bhushan Winners

• Ms. Alka Yagnik (Art – Maharashtra)
• Shri Mammootty (Art – Kerala)
• Shri Uday Kotak (Trade and Industry – Maharashtra)
• Shri Piyush Pandey (Posthumous) (Art – Maharashtra)
• Shri Shibu Soren (Posthumous) (Public Affairs – Jharkhand)

Key Padma Shri Recipients Honored Today

• Shri Rohit Sharma (Sports – Maharashtra)
• Ms. Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar (Sports – Punjab)
• Shri Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar (Literature and Education – Delhi)
• Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee (Art -West Bengal)
• Shri Praveen Kumar (Sports – Uttar Pradesh)
• Shri Satyanarayan Nuwal (Trade and Industry/Defence – Maharashtra)

The Triumph of “People’s Padma”

While the celebrities garnered media cameras, the heart of today’s ceremony remained the unsung heroes who have dedicated their lives to social welfare, science, and traditional crafts.

Among those honored were Anke Gowda M. from Karnataka, renowned for his extensive social work, and Ms. Armida Fernandez from Maharashtra, celebrated for her monumental contributions to medicine and healthcare ecosystem development.

The selection committee’s distinct pivot toward recognizing grassroots achievers highlights the evolving philosophy of the “People’s Padma” – transforming the awards from elite recognition to an inclusive celebration of pure merit and human grit.