President Murmu Confers Padma Awards 2026; Dharmendra Posthumously Honoured

President Droupadi Murmu, on Monday, May 25, 2026, presided over the first Civil Investiture Ceremony for the year 2026 at the historic Ganatantra Mandap of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, where she conferred Padma Awards to 66 distinguished personalities. These awards, among India's highest civilian honours, recognise exceptional contributions in diverse fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. A highlight of the ceremony was the posthumous conferment of the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, upon legendary Bollywood actor Dharmendra. Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89, was honoured for his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of art, following a career spanning over six decades and more than 300 films. His wife, veteran actress and Member of Parliament Hema Malini, accepted the prestigious award on his behalf, with the family expressing immense pride in this recognition. Alongside Dharmendra, renowned classical musician and violinist N Rajam was also conferred the Padma Vibhushan, acknowledging her lifelong contributions to Indian classical music and her unique 'gayaki ang' style on the violin. The ceremony also saw several notable figures receive the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian honour. Among them were former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and acclaimed banker Uday Kotak. Gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy and polymath Shatavadhani R Ganesh, who revived the classical Indian art form 'Avadhana', also received the Padma Bhushan. Additionally, ad guru Piyush Pandey and former parliamentarian Vijay Kumar Malhotra were posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, with their respective family members accepting the honours. The ceremony further recognised a multitude of individuals with the Padma Shri award for their distinguished service in various fields. Prominent awardees included Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was honoured for her contributions to sports, and celebrated actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, recognised for his immense impact on Indian cinema, particularly Bengali films. Para-athlete Praveen Kumar and former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) director general K. Vijay Kumar were also among the Padma Shri recipients. The Padma Awards for 2026, which were announced on the eve of Republic Day earlier this year, comprise a total of 131 awards: five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. The first civil investiture ceremony on May 25 conferred 66 of these awards, specifically two Padma Vibhushan, six Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri. The remaining awardees are slated to receive their honours in a subsequent ceremony, the date for which will be announced later. The event was attended by several high-profile dignitaries, including Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The selection process for the Padma Awards involves nominations from the public, followed by scrutiny by the Padma Awards Committee, ultimately approved by the President. These awards aim to celebrate individuals who have made significant contributions to nation-building and inspired society through their exemplary achievements. The event underscores the nation's commitment to honouring its finest talents and dedicated citizens.

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