Padma Awards 2025: Droupadi Murmu confers 66 honours at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Synopsis
President Droupadi Murmu opened the 2025 Padma Awards season at Rashtrapati Bhavan, conferring 66 honours in the first investiture ceremony. Bollywood legend Dharmendra received the Padma Vibhushan — collected by wife Hema Malini — while violinist N Rajam and banker Uday Kotak were also among the standout recipients in a 131-award cycle that includes 16 posthumous honours.
Key Takeaways
President Droupadi Murmu conferred 66 Padma Awards at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony on 25 May at Rashtrapati Bhavan .
Actor Dharmendra received the Padma Vibhushan for arts; the award was accepted by his wife and MP, Hema Malini .
Violinist N Rajam and former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and banker Uday Kotak were also honoured.
The government announced 131 Padma Awards in total for 2025 — 5 Padma Vibhushan , 13 Padma Bhushan , and 113 Padma Shri .
Of all awardees, 19 are women and 16 will be honoured posthumously.
The date for the second investiture ceremony covering the remaining 65 awards is yet to be announced.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, 25 May conferred 66 Padma Awards at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony of the year, held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The honours recognised distinguished contributions across arts, cinema, music, public service, and several other fields.
Key Recipients at the First Ceremony
Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra was awarded the Padma Vibhushan — the country's second-highest civilian honour — for his exceptional contribution to the arts. Unable to attend in person, the award was received on his behalf by his wife and Member of Parliament, Hema Malini.
Celebrated violinist N Rajam was also conferred the Padma Vibhushan at the ceremony, recognising her decades of mastery and contribution to Hindustani classical music.
Former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and prominent banker Uday Kotak were among those honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award.
Scale of This Year's Padma Awards
The government announced a total of 131 Padma Awards for 2025, comprising 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. Of the total awardees, 19 are women and 16 will be honoured posthumously.
The first investiture ceremony covered 2 Padma Vibhushan, 6 Padma Bhushan, and 58 Padma Shri awards. The date for the second ceremony, which will cover the remaining recipients, is yet to be announced, according to reports.
About the Padma Awards
The Padma Awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — are among India's highest civilian distinctions, instituted in 1954. Announced annually on Republic Day, they recognise outstanding achievement in arts, literature, education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, and trade and industry.
What Comes Next
The second Civil Investiture Ceremony, at which the remaining 65 Padma Awards will be conferred, is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks. The precise date will be announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan in due course.
Point of View
Folk artists, unsung scientists — go largely unnoticed by mainstream coverage. Dharmendra's Padma Vibhushan is overdue by most reckonings, but the real story is the 16 posthumous awards, a figure that signals the government is increasingly recognising contributions that were overlooked in their time. Whether that corrective impulse extends to more systematic nomination reform — the process has long been criticised as opaque — remains an open question.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who received the Padma Vibhushan at the 2025 Civil Investiture Ceremony?
Actor Dharmendra and violinist N Rajam were conferred the Padma Vibhushan at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony on 25 May 2025. Dharmendra's award was received by his wife and MP, Hema Malini, on his behalf.
How many Padma Awards were announced for 2025 in total?
The government announced 131 Padma Awards for 2025, comprising 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. Of these, 19 awardees are women and 16 will be honoured posthumously.
When is the second Padma Awards investiture ceremony?
The date for the second Civil Investiture Ceremony, at which the remaining 65 Padma Awards will be conferred, has not yet been announced. Rashtrapati Bhavan is expected to confirm the schedule in the coming weeks.
What are the Padma Awards and when were they instituted?
The Padma Awards — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri — are among India's highest civilian honours, instituted in 1954. They are announced on Republic Day each year and recognise outstanding achievement across arts, science, public affairs, sports, and other fields.
Who received the Padma Bhushan at the 2025 ceremony?
Former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and banker Uday Kotak were among those conferred the Padma Bhushan at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony on 25 May 2025.
