President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards 2026 to several distinguished personalities during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday [1, 3].
These honors represent the highest civilian awards in India, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation across a wide range of professional and social fields [1, 2].
The event, held on June 23, 2026, served as the second Civil Investiture Ceremony of the year [3, 4]. A previous ceremony took place on May 25, 2026 [2].
According to one report, 65 personalities were honored during the proceedings [1]. This total included two Padma Vibhushan awards, seven Padma Bhushan awards, and 56 Padma Shri honors [1]. However, other reports indicate a higher total of 131 individuals recognized, with five Padma Vibhushan awards conferred [6].
Among the notable recipients were cricketer Rohit Sharma, singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, and actor R. Madhavan [1, 2, 3]. The ceremony also included posthumous honors for Satish Shah and Dharmendra [3, 6].
The awards are designed to highlight excellence and distinguished service. The selection process typically spans various sectors, including arts, sports, public affairs, and science, to ensure a broad representation of Indian society [1, 2].
“President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan”
The discrepancy in reported awardee numbers—ranging from 65 to 131—suggests a distinction between the total annual list of recipients and those physically present at the second investiture ceremony. By splitting the honors across multiple dates, the Indian government manages the logistics of the Rashtrapati Bhavan ceremonies while maintaining the prestige of the civilian honors system.
